Elastomeric Sealing Member for Smokeless Tobacco Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging for smokeless tobacco products fails to effectively protect the products from environmental effects such as moisture, leading to degradation or dryness, and often requires complex manufacturing processes and materials that are not suitable for all applications.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a lid and base with a sealing member made of elastomeric material, such as food-grade silicone, that forms a seal around the perimeter of the base sidewalls, providing a secure and flexible barrier against moisture and oxygen while allowing for easy assembly and use, and eliminating the need for heat-resistant materials and additional manufacturing steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional packaging materials and sealing methods are used, then manufacturing complexity increases and additional processing steps are required, but protection from environmental effects such as moisture is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a preformed elastomeric sealing member that forms a flexible barrier around the storage compartment. This elastomeric material creates an effective seal against moisture and environmental factors without requiring complex manufacturing processes or additional adhesives, directly resolving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an elastomeric material for the sealing member that combines flexibility, sealing capability, and tension-maintaining properties. This composite material approach provides superior moisture protection while eliminating the need for multiple components or complex assembly steps, addressing both the protection and complexity concerns
2Reliability
If heat-resistant materials are used for sealing, then reliable sealing is achieved, but manufacturing processes become more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a preformed elastomeric sealing member that is designed to be replaced or reused without complex processing. This approach achieves reliable sealing through the inherent properties of the elastomeric material rather than through expensive heat-resistant materials or complex manufacturing processes, directly improving ease of manufacture while maintaining sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric sealing member maintains its own tension and sealing capability without requiring additional adhesives or complex assembly operations. The material self-seals through its elastic properties, eliminating the need for heat treatment or specialized manufacturing processes, thereby improving both reliability and manufacturing ease
3Reliability
If adhesive bonding is used to attach sealing members, then sealing is achieved, but additional manufacturing steps and materials are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for adhesive bonding by using a preformed elastomeric sealing member that attaches through mechanical interference fit alone. This removes the adhesive step from the manufacturing process, improving productivity while maintaining seal integrity through the elastomeric material's inherent sealing properties
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric sealing member acts as an intermediary that provides both the sealing function and the attachment function. By combining these functions into a single component that uses interference fit, the patent eliminates the need for separate adhesive bonding, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency without compromising seal integrity
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 container effectively seals and protects smokeless tobacco products from environmental factors, ensuring product integrity and usability, while simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs by using a preformed sealing member that maintains tension and provides a reliable seal without the need for additional adhesives or complex manufacturing operations.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing member may be configured to engage the one or more lid sidewalls in the coupled configuration and to release from the one or more lid sidewalls during movement of the base with respect to the lid to the decoupled configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A container configured to hold one or more units of a product is provided. The container may include a lid and a base. The lid may include a top wall and one or more lid sidewalls extending to a lower lip. The base may include a bottom wall and one or more base sidewalls extending to an upper lip. A channel may be defined at the one or more base sidewalls that extend around the perimeter of the base. A sealing member may be received in the channel. The sealing member may be configured to engage an inner surface of the one or more lid sidewalls when the lid is coupled to the base. Thereby, a storage compartment defined by the base may be sealed shut. A related method is also provided.