Drinking lid for a drinking container, and drinking container having such a lid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 360° drinking caps face challenges in assembly after cleaning, as alignment of components is laborious and not always precise, leading to suboptimal sealing and air flow issues, which can result in liquid leakage and pulsation during use.

Innovation Solution

The 360° drinking attachment features a sealing disc with stiffening ribs and a clamping flange that does not require alignment with the drinking rim, along with air inlet passages designed as labyrinth seals between the drinking rim and sealing disc, or between the external and internal threads, to ensure stable assembly and efficient air flow without liquid leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the clamping flange and sealing disc are designed to require precise alignment during assembly, then the sealing performance is improved, but the assembly process becomes laborious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system is segmented into a sealing disc with integrated sealing elements and a clamping flange, where the sealing disc can be independently positioned and secured without requiring precise alignment with the clamping flange. The sealing elements are distributed around the periphery, allowing the sealing disc to be clamped securely at any rotational position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing disc is designed with self-aligning features where the sealing elements automatically engage with the corresponding surfaces of the clamping flange and drinking rim upon insertion, eliminating the need for manual alignment. The elastic deformation of the sealing elements ensures automatic seating and sealing contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the sealing disc is made entirely elastic to enable lifting by suction, then the drinking function is improved, but the structural stability and resistance to unintended displacement deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrinking functionVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing disc exhibits different mechanical properties in different regions: the peripheral sealing elements are highly elastic to enable suction-induced lifting and sealing contact, while the central and radial structures have increased stiffness to provide structural stability and resist unintended displacement during assembly and use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing disc is constructed as a composite structure combining elastic materials for the sealing elements with stiffer materials for the structural framework, allowing simultaneous achievement of flexibility for drinking function and rigidity for structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If air inlet passages are designed as labyrinth seals, then liquid leakage is prevented, but the complexity of the structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid leakage preventionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The labyrinth seal acts as an intermediary structure between the air inlet passages and the liquid flow path. The series of alternating seal elements and gaps create a tortuous flow path that allows air to pass through while preventing liquid from penetrating, effectively decoupling the air and liquid flow requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If the sealing elements are made soft and elastic, then the sealing contact and adaptability to surface variations are improved, but the manufacturing precision and dimensional control become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing contactVSAvoiddimensional control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing elements are designed with specific elastomeric material properties and geometric parameters (cross-section shape, thickness, mounting depth) that provide sufficient compliance to accommodate surface variations while maintaining dimensional control during manufacturing. The elastomeric material's inherent elasticity compensates for minor dimensional variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 simplifies assembly, prevents liquid leakage, and ensures consistent air flow, enhancing the usability and durability of the drinking cap while allowing for different material selections for the fastening and drinking sections.

Implementation Method 1

which is dimensioned such that it is pulled over a stamp head projecting from a cylindrical stamp stem by elastic deformation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

which can be partially lifted from the drinking rim by a suction action of a user of the drinking attachment in order to release a passage to the intermediate space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 3

an air inlet passage can be formed between the drinking rim and the sealing disc... which are designed in such a way that air can always pass through, drinks such as water, tea

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLabyrinth seal:

Data Source

PatentEP3541250B1Drinking lid for a drinking container, and drinking container having such a lid
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 MAPA GMBH
  • EP3541250B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3541250B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3541250B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a drinking lid (10) for drinking containers (12) comprising a funnel-like, circumferential drinking edge (14), which is open to the drinking container (12), having a fastening section (16) for fastening the drinking lid (10) to an edge region surrounding an opening of the drinking container (12), and a bowl-shaped, elastic gasket (20), which can be inserted into the drinking edge (14), for sealing the drinking edge (14). The gasket (20) circumferentially contacts the drinking edge (14) in the region of the free end of the drinking edge (14), when the drinking lid (10) is properly installed on the drinking container (12), forming an intermediate chamber (22) which is open to the drinking container (12), and is designed such that it can be partially raised from the drinking edge (14) by a suction action of a user of the drinking lid (10), in order to free a passage to the intermediate chamber (22). The gasket (20) has, in the region of the base thereof, an outwardly protruding circumferential flange (26), which is designed to contact the edge surrounding the opening of the drinking container (12), and the drinking edge (14) has a clamping flange (32), which projects toward the gasket, in order to clamp the flange (26) of the gasket (20) against the edge of the opening of the drinking container (12) as the drinking lid (10) is fastened to a drinking container (12), the flange (26) of the gasket (20) having a number of openings (28) to the intermediate chamber (22), with the clamping flange (32) ending before the openings (28) provided in the flange (26) of the gasket (20).