Container Lid Seal Assembly for Cleanable Spout Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refillable beverage containers with elongated spout lids face challenges in sealing due to complex mechanisms, which are costly to manufacture and difficult to clean, and are prone to interference from ice and debris.
Innovation Solution
A lid assembly with a displaceable seal assembly that includes an elongated intermediate arm and plunger arm, allowing for easy operation and cleaning, and a button member that actuates the seal assembly to reliably open and close the fluid aperture, preventing ice interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex sealing mechanism is used to seal the fluid aperture in an elongated spout, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism is divided into discrete components: a seal member (such as a grommet or O-ring) that can be separately installed into the spout, and a lid portion with a separate sealing surface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall mechanism while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted from a complex integrated mechanism and implemented through a simple seal member that can be independently replaced or maintained. The seal member is taken out as a separate replaceable component rather than being part of a complex mechanical assembly, reducing device complexity while preserving sealing function.
2Reliability
If a complex sealing mechanism is used to seal the fluid aperture, then sealing reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the sealing system into a seal member and a lid portion with integrated sealing features, each component can be manufactured using standard, cost-effective processes. The seal member can be produced through simple molding, while the lid portion incorporates sealing surfaces directly into its structure, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily replaced if needed. Using a basic elastomeric seal rather than a complex mechanical sealing system reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining adequate sealing performance for the application.
3Reliability
If a sealing mechanism is disposed within the interior of the removable lid, then sealing function is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is extracted as a separate, accessible component that can be easily removed and cleaned independently of the lid structure. This allows users to maintain the sealing surface and seal member separately, improving ease of operation and hygiene maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of embedding the sealing mechanism within the lid interior where it is difficult to access, the sealing surfaces are positioned on exterior or easily accessible surfaces of the lid and bottle. The seal member is placed in a location that allows for simple removal and cleaning, inverting the traditional embedded approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A lid assembly for a container includes a seal assembly coupled to a base portion, and the seal assembly includes an intermediate arm pivotably coupled to the base portion and an engagement portion disposed adjacent to a second end. The seal assembly also includes a plunger arm pivotably coupled to the intermediate arm and a seal member disposed on the plunger arm. Displacing a button member coupled to the base portion actuates the seal assembly from a closed first position in which the seal member seals a fluid aperture formed in a spout of the base portion to an open second position in which the fluid aperture is not sealed.