Food Container Lid With Elastic Deformable Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional food containers are unable to accommodate items taller than their containment space, leading to either partial opening of the lid, which allows food to escape, or separate carrying, which can result in overlooked consumption, and existing designs that attempt to address this issue, such as the Norwegian design registration 084240, are limited in their ability to adapt and increase bulk.
Innovation Solution
A container with an elastically deformable portion on the lid that temporarily increases the containment space by deforming outwardly to accommodate taller items, allowing the lid to be closed securely and preventing food escape, while maintaining the container's compact form.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lid is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then the container maintains its compact form, but it cannot accommodate taller food items without leaving the lid ajar
Solution Approach 1:
The lid incorporates an elastically deformable portion with different mechanical properties than the rest of the lid structure. This localized region can deform to accommodate taller items while the remaining lid maintains its rigid, stable structure for normal operation and compact storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system where the elastically deformable portion can temporarily change shape during closure to accommodate varying item heights, then returns to its original position. This allows the lid to adapt to different conditions while maintaining overall structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lid is left ajar to accommodate taller items, then the container can hold larger food items, but food items can escape from the container
Solution Approach 1:
The elastically deformable portion provides localized compliance specifically at the closure interface, allowing the lid to seal securely around taller items without compromising the overall closure security. The deformable region absorbs the dimensional variation while maintaining contact and sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic portion acts as a cushioning element that anticipates and accommodates dimensional variations in stored items. By providing this compliant buffer zone in advance, the design prevents the need to leave the lid ajar while still securing the closure around items of varying heights.
3Reliability
If food items are cut into smaller pieces to fit the container, then they can be stored securely, but preparation time increases and visual appearance and nutritional value deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container design changes the physical parameter of the lid (introducing elastic deformability) to accommodate items of varying sizes in their original form. This eliminates the need to alter the food items themselves, thereby preserving preparation time, visual appearance, and nutritional value while maintaining secure storage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If an outwardly projecting dome is added to the lid to accommodate taller items, then the container can hold larger items, but the bulk of the container permanently increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a permanent static dome structure, the elastically deformable portion provides temporary, dynamic accommodation. The lid maintains its compact original dimensions for storage and transport, and only expands locally when needed during closure to accommodate taller items, then returns to its compact form.
Solution Approach 2:
The accommodation capability is localized to a specific deformable portion of the lid rather than requiring a universal dome structure across the entire lid. This allows compact overall container dimensions while providing targeted accommodation capability where needed.
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
Enables the secure storage and transportation of taller food items by temporarily expanding the containment space, ensuring the lid can be closed, preventing leakage or spoilage, and ensuring the item is not overlooked, while maintaining the container's compactness.
Implementation Method 1
the elastically deformable portion deforming elastically outwardly away from the base in contact with the item
Data Source
AI summary
A food container has a container bottom and a container lid. The container bottom has a base and walls upstanding from the base to define a container bottom interior. The container lid has a top cover and side edges, and the top cover overlies the base when the lid is in closed connection with the bottom. The top cover includes an elastically deformable portion and an inelastic portion. Each of the elastically deformable portion and the inelastic portion overlies different portions of the base when the lid is in closed connection with the bottom. The elastically deformable portion facilitates accommodation of an item within the container bottom interior that rests on the base that underlies the elastically deformable portion and that extends into contact with the elastically deformable portion as the lid is shifted into closed connection with the bottom by deforming elastically outwardly away from the base.