Curved Snap Hooks for Secure Medical Container Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers with snap-in hooks for closing, particularly used in medical and dental practices, face issues with proper engagement of all hooks, leading to incomplete closure and difficulty in opening, which is critical for transporting infectious waste.
Innovation Solution
The container features non-straight, compact snap hooks and corresponding curved or inclined snap-in openings that ensure proper alignment and engagement, preventing incorrect closure and ensuring all hooks engage correctly, with a design that includes a rounded rectangle shape and closely spaced openings for enhanced sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional straight snap hooks are used, then the closing process is simple, but the snap hooks may slide along the inside of the shell instead of engaging properly in the locking openings
Solution Approach 1:
The snap hooks are designed with a curved or inclined course instead of straight lines. This curvature ensures that the snap hooks engage properly with the locking openings by following a path that guides them into the correct position, preventing sliding along the shell interior while maintaining ease of closure.
2Reliability
If multiple snap hooks engage simultaneously, then the closure is secure, but the frictional forces and bending resistance make it extremely difficult to remove the lid
Solution Approach 1:
The snap hooks are designed with elastic properties that allow them to deform dynamically during engagement and disengagement. The curved design combined with elastic material properties enables the hooks to flex during the opening process, reducing the peak force required to overcome frictional forces and release the engagement, while still maintaining secure closure when engaged.
3Ease of operation
If the lid is placed at an angle for closing, then insertion is easier, but the snap hooks may become misaligned and fail to engage properly
Solution Approach 1:
The curved or inclined course of the snap hooks provides a self-aligning mechanism. When the lid is placed at an angle during insertion, the curved path guides the snap hooks into proper alignment with the locking openings as they engage, compensating for the angular misalignment and ensuring proper engagement without requiring precise initial alignment.
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
This design ensures complete and secure closure with reduced friction and resistance, preventing odor leakage and spillage, while allowing easy and secure opening for repositioning, meeting transport regulations.
Implementation Method 1
the snap-in hooks changing their position when snapping in relative to the position during insertion such that they can no longer be removed from the snap-in opening without manipulation
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a container (1) with a base (3), a height axis (8) which runs perpendicularly to the base (3), a casing (4) which circumferentially adjoins the base (3) and which has a circumferential edge flange (12) that protrudes outwards on an end facing away from the base (3), an opening cross-section (6) which is defined by the casing (4) end (7) facing away from the base (3) and releases an access to the respective inner volume of the container (1), and a cover (5) which closes the opening cross-section (6) in the closed position (2) of the cover and which is provided with snap-on hooks (9) that are arranged in a distributed manner and in a mutually spaced manner, preferably elongated snap-on hooks when seen on a plane of the edge flange (12), so as to surround the edges (10) of the cover. In the closed position (2) of the cover (5), the snap-on hooks (9) engage into latching openings (11), preferably elongated latching openings, which are adapted to the snap-on hooks, in the edge flange (12), whereby a form fit is produced which prevents a movement oriented away from the base (3) and parallel to the height axis (8) of the container (1). The cover (5) tightly closes the inner volume of the container (1) in the closed position (2).