Container Lid With Reclosable Hatch for Spill-Safe Beverage Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fast food consumers face challenges in safely and conveniently dunking confections like biscotti into hot beverages while on the go, due to the design of existing disposable cup lids that do not allow access to the beverage without removing the lid, leading to spills and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A disposable container lid with a recessed, flexibly integrated annular reclosable hatch cover that can be pivoted to expose a centrally positioned annular-shaped hatch opening, enabling dunking of confections without removing the lid, while maintaining a secure seal and preventing spills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lid is removed from the container to access the beverage for dunking confections, then the consumer can dunk confections into the beverage, but the consumer risks spills and injuries from hot beverages
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is segmented into a main body and a movable hatch cover that can be independently opened. This allows the consumer to access the beverage through the hatch opening while the main lid remains attached to the container, providing spill protection while enabling dunking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hatch cover acts as an intermediary element between the consumer and the beverage. It provides a controlled access point that allows dunking while maintaining the protective barrier of the attached lid, mediating between the need for access and the need for safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the lid remains attached to the container, then spill risk is reduced, but the consumer cannot access the beverage to dunk confections
Solution Approach 1:
The lid structure is divided into a stationary main body that remains attached to the container and a movable hatch cover that can be opened independently. This segmentation allows the lid to simultaneously provide spill protection through its attached status while enabling dunking access through the openable hatch.
Solution Approach 2:
The hatch cover transitions from a closed state (providing full protection) to an open state (providing access) while remaining part of the attached lid assembly. This dynamic element allows the system to adapt between protection and access modes without requiring complete lid removal.
3Ease of operation
If a hatch opening is added to the lid for dunking access, then dunking is enabled without removing the lid, but the lid structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hatch cover, hinge mechanism, and opening detection features are integrated into a single molded lid component. This merging of multiple functional elements into one unified structure reduces the number of separate parts and assembly steps, thereby reducing overall device complexity despite adding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides spill protection when closed, enables dunking access when the hatch is open, and can detect when the hatch is open to control valve operation. This multi-functionality consolidates several features into a single component system, reducing complexity compared to having separate devices for each function.
4Ease of operation
If the hatch cover is made flexible and reclosable, then the consumer can easily open and close it for dunking, but the sealing reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The hatch cover is made from flexible material that can be easily opened and closed by the consumer. This flexibility enables simple manual operation while the cover's elastic properties help maintain contact with the sealing surface, preserving seal integrity through the flexibility of the shell itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible hatch cover design allows the consumer to easily open and close it without requiring tools or complex mechanisms. The self-contained flexible structure provides its own sealing through material contact, enabling easy user operation while maintaining reliability through the self-sealing property of the flexible material.
Data Source
AI summary
A dome-shaped lid reversibly securably sealed to the rim of a container with two opposing drinking ports die-cut in the top wall of a brim mount. A reclosable fold-back hatch cover recessed within the brim mount rotates about a U-shaped hinge between a closed and opened position quickly and reliably. When the hatch cover is rotated to its opened position it creates a hatch opening of sufficient size to access the beverage for the following purposes, including, but not limited to, dunking a confection, letting steam escape to cool a hot beverage, adding condiments, stirring the beverage, or adding and removing toppings such as whipped cream on the surface of the beverage, performed with the lid remaining fixed to the container rim.