Pivotable Container Lid With Stacking Provisions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container lids face challenges in providing a good, hermetic seal while allowing easy access and frequent opening and closing, especially for hygroscopic contents like baby milk powder, while minimizing waste and maintaining sealing integrity during stacking.

Innovation Solution

A thermoplastic lid part with a pivotably connected design featuring a circumferential flange and access opening, optimized for large enough size to accommodate a metering spoon, utilizing snap-locking seal technology and stacking provisions to ensure secure closure and prevent foreign object entry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lid is made with a small opening to maintain hermetic sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in accessing contents with a metering spoon

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidease of opening and closing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lid is divided into two functional parts: a large opening portion for easy access with metering spoon, and a separate sealing flange that can be closed over the opening. This segmentation allows the opening to be large for accessibility while the sealing flange provides hermetic closure when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the lid is made with a large opening to allow easy access with metering spoon, then ease of operation is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to difficulty in maintaining hermetic seal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of opening and closingVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing flange acts as an intermediary element between the large opening and the container opening. This flange provides a sealing surface that can be closed over the large opening to maintain hermetic seal, while still allowing easy access when opened.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the lid structure is simplified for easy manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to insufficient sealing provisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufacturing lidVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing flange is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides sealing contact with the container rim, incorporates stacking provisions for stable stacking, and includes integral connection to the lid body. This multi-functionality achieves reliable sealing without requiring complex additional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Stability of the object's composition

If stacking provisions are added to the lid for stable stacking, then stability of stacked containers is improved, but device complexity worsens due to additional structural elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of stacked containersVSAvoidcomplexity of lid structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stacking provisions are merged with the sealing flange structure rather than being separate components. The flange incorporates both sealing contact surfaces and stacking contact surfaces, achieving stable stacking functionality without adding independent complex structures to the lid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a reliable, easy-to-open and close lid that maintains a hermetic seal, reduces waste, and prevents contamination, even with frequent use, while allowing easy access and stacking without compromising the sealing integrity.

Implementation Method 1

perimeters of said lid flange and of first flange mutually adapted to allow said lid to close in a sealing manner on said first flange of said connection portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSnap-locking seal: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3495286B1Container with stacking provisions
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 NV NUTRICIA
  • EP3495286B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3495286B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3495286B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a container (1) comprising a lid part (2) substantially made from a thermoplastic material and comprising a connection portion (5) for connection to a rim of a container part (3) and a lid (4) which is pivotably connected to said connection portion (5) to close in a sealing manner, said connection portion (5) comprising an access opening and a circumferential first flange surrounding said access opening, and an area of said access opening is at least about 50 cm2. The connection portion is provided with stacking provisions which enclose said access opening and which are complementary with stacking provisions at the bottom of the container part and the container further comprises a sealing foil attached to an inner surface of the container part with a space provided between the lid and the sealing foil for storing a measuring scoop.