Elastic Lid with Claw and Push-Up Mechanism for Liquid Containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing lids for liquid material storage containers are prone to being lifted due to pressure rises or accidental contact, and may detach or break, with inefficient attachment and detachment operations, and there is a risk of fragment contamination.

Innovation Solution

A lid design featuring a plug portion with an annular projection for sealing, claw portions for secure engagement, and a push-up operating portion for easy detachment, made from elastically deformable materials, ensuring secure attachment and detachment without breaking or fragment contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the lid is held only by friction between inner peripheral surface of syringe and outer peripheral surface of cap, then the structure is simple, but the lid may be lifted up due to pressure rise or accidental contact and may come off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelid structureVSAvoidlid retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lid is divided into multiple functional components: a cap portion for basic coverage, a claw portion for mechanical engagement with the syringe flange, and a push-up operating portion for easy removal. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively providing secure retention and reliable prevention against unintended displacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The claw portion is pre-configured with a claw tip that engages with the flange before the lid is fully installed. This preliminary engagement action ensures that the lid is securely retained from the beginning, preventing it from being lifted up due to pressure rise or accidental contact during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a claw is used to firmly engage the lid with the container, then the lid retention is improved, but the lid body or claw may be broken, or efficiency in attachment and detachment operations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelid retentionVSAvoidattachment and detachment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The claw portion is designed to be elastically deformable, allowing it to dynamically adjust during attachment and detachment operations. When the push-up operating portion is pushed, the claw portion elastically deforms to release from the flange, enabling easy detachment without breaking. This dynamic flexibility prevents breakage while maintaining firm engagement during normal use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The push-up operating portion is designed to directly transmit user force to the claw portion, allowing the user to detach the lid by simply pushing with a finger. The claw portion automatically releases from the flange through this simple self-service action, eliminating the need for complex tools or multi-step detachment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If the engagement claw is long and has a sharp edge, then the engagement strength is improved, but a defect may be caused if the engagement claw is scraped and scraped fragments are mixed into the liquid material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengagement strengthVSAvoidfragment contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The claw portion is made from an elastically deformable material that forms a flexible structure. This flexibility allows the claw to engage firmly with the flange while preventing sharp edges that could cause scraping. The flexible nature ensures that even if contact occurs, no fragments are generated or mixed into the liquid material, eliminating the contamination risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If the lid is designed for secure engagement with multiple claws, then the lid retention is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelid retentionVSAvoidlid structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional elements are merged into a single integrated lid structure: the cap portion, claw portion, and push-up operating portion are all formed as one piece from an elastically deformable material. This merging provides secure engagement through the claw mechanism while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate components that would need to be assembled and coordinated.

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 lid design prevents uplift and breakage, ensures high efficiency in attachment and detachment, and prevents pressure-induced removal, maintaining sealing integrity and reducing the risk of fragment contamination.

Implementation Method 1

The lid (1) is made from an elastically-deformable material, and has a push-up operating portion (7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3604161B1Lid for liquid material storage container, and liquid material storage container
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 MUSASHI ENG INC
  • EP3604161B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3604161B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3604161B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Problem: To provide a lid for a liquid material storage container, which can solve the problems of uplift and breakage of the lid for the liquid material storage container, and which ensures high efficiency in attachment and detachment operations, and to further provide the liquid material storage container. Solution: The lid for the liquid material storage container comprises an upper plate portion covering a flange and a large-diameter opening of a storage cylinder; a plug portion extending downward from a central region of the upper plate portion and plugging the large-diameter opening of the storage cylinder; a pair of first lateral portions coming into contact with lateral surfaces of a pair of short sides of the flange when the lid is closed; a pair of claw portions extending from the pair of first lateral portions toward the plug portion and coming into contact with lower surfaces of the pair of short sides of the flange when the lid is closed; and a push-up operating portion formed in at least one of the pair of first lateral portions, wherein a length of each of the claw portions is shorter than a distance between the claw portion and the upper plate portion. A liquid material storage container is equipped with the lid.