Drink container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drink container closures fail to provide a balance between easy access and effective sealing, particularly during motion or overturn, leading to potential spills.
Innovation Solution
A resealable lid with a living hinge and a flexible flap made of a different material than the lid, featuring anchors and a plug system that allows for easy opening and secure sealing, ensuring fluid containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closure is designed to seal the drink container effectively, then spillage is prevented, but access to the drink becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is segmented into a rigid body portion and a flexible flap portion that can be independently moved. The flap can be opened for quick access to the drink while the body remains sealed, resolving the contradiction between maintaining seal integrity and enabling easy access.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure transitions from a static sealed state to a dynamic state where the flexible flap can be easily opened and closed. This dynamic capability allows the closure to adapt between providing full sealing and enabling quick drink access without compromising either function.
2Ease of operation
If a closure allows easy removal and reattachment, then access to the drink is quick, but sealing reliability during motion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closure merges the functions of a removable cap and a spill-proof seal into a single integrated structure. The rigid body provides threadable engagement for secure attachment, while the flexible flap provides continuous sealing, combining the benefits of easy removal with motion-resistant sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure uses composite construction with a rigid body material for structural integrity and thread engagement, combined with a flexible flap material for sealing. This composite approach allows the closure to maintain reliability during motion while remaining easy to remove and reattach.
3Ease of manufacture
If a closure uses integrated materials for simplicity, then manufacturing is easier, but functional versatility (sealing and access) is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the closure have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The rigid body portion uses material suitable for threading and structural support, while the flap portion uses flexible material optimized for sealing, achieving functional versatility without overly complicating manufacturing.
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 enables easy access to the drink while maintaining effective sealing, preventing spills during motion or overturn, and allowing for easy resealing when not in use.
Implementation Method 1
The closure may be formed of a different material than the lid, and which allows for easy opening of a drinking aperture in the lid or cap of the drink container... The flap may comprise a living hinge disposed between the first end and the second end
Implementation Method 2
one end of the first and second ends includes one or more anchors that extend through the top wall of the lid to retain the flap in position
Implementation Method 3
an other end of the first and second ends includes a plug which passes through the drink aperture
Data Source
AI summary
Present embodiments relate to a drink container, or closure, or both. More specifically, but without limitation, present embodiments relate to a drink container, or lid having a closure, or both.