Food Container Sealing Cover with Pull Tab Opening Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food containers with sealing mechanisms either fail to provide easy opening or compromise sealing integrity, leading to leakage issues and user safety concerns during opening.
Innovation Solution
A food container design featuring a recessed wall portion with a retracted external space and a concave camber, combined with a pull tab mechanism, allows for easy opening with minimal effort without tools, while maintaining tight sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking lip is used to enhance sealing stability, then sealing reliability is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to finger injury risk during opening
Solution Approach 1:
A pull tab is introduced as an intermediary element between the user's finger and the locking mechanism. The pull tab extends into the concave camber and allows users to open the container by pulling the tab rather than directly manipulating the locking lip, thereby maintaining sealing reliability while eliminating finger injury risk
Solution Approach 2:
The opening mechanism is segmented into separate functional elements: the locking lip for sealing, the concave camber for structural support, and the pull tab for user interaction. This segmentation allows the harmful locking lip to be separated from the user's direct contact path while maintaining its sealing function
2Reliability
If a tight sealing mechanism is implemented, then leakage prevention is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult opening
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism transitions from a static tight lock to a dynamic system where the pull tab can be pulled to disengage the locking lip from the sealing edge. The container body and lid remain tightly sealed during normal use, but the dynamic pull tab mechanism enables easy opening when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The pull tab serves as a mediator that provides mechanical advantage for opening. By extending into the concave camber and connecting to the locking lip system, it allows users to overcome the tight sealing force without requiring excessive manual effort or tools
3Productivity
If vacuum molding is used for manufacturing, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but structural strength deteriorates due to thin wall thickness
Solution Approach 1:
A concave camber is introduced into the container body structure. This curved geometric feature distributes mechanical stresses more effectively throughout the thin-walled vacuum-formed structure, compensating for the reduced structural strength while maintaining manufacturing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The container body is designed with locally optimized features: the concave camber provides enhanced structural strength in critical areas, while the rest of the container maintains thin wall thickness for manufacturing efficiency. The locking lip and sealing edge also feature localized geometric optimizations for strength
Data Source
AI summary
A container including a container body and a sealing cover. A peripheral wall of the container body has at least one recessed wall portion disposed in one corner thereof and forms a retracted external space area and concave camber between the recessed wall portion and a hem. A pull tab extends from an outer side of a cover sealing rib and is inserted into above said concave camber.