Dispensable Container With Flexible Press Lid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging containers for comestibles fail to provide easy one-handed dispensing and accidental spill prevention, and are not easily fillable with commercial equipment.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a body with a concave top face segment and a separate flexible member with a lid portion and press portion that rotates upon downward force application, ensuring easy product dispensing and accidental opening prevention, while allowing for easy filling through a bottom opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a prior art container with a flexible press portion is used, then the container can be opened by applying downward force, but the container may open accidentally and spill product contents
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates a tamper-evident seal and interlocking lid mechanisms that preemptively prevent accidental opening. The seal breaks only upon intentional opening action, and the lid requires specific manipulation to disengage from the body, counteracting any unintended opening forces before they can cause product spillage.
Solution Approach 2:
The container employs curved and rounded structural features in the lid and body interfaces that distribute opening forces evenly. The curved engagement surfaces require deliberate rotational or lifting motion to disengage, preventing accidental opening while maintaining ease of intentional opening through the designed curvature geometry.
2Reliability
If a complex lid mechanism is added to prevent accidental opening, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper-evident seal, lid closure, and opening prevention mechanisms are merged into an integrated lid assembly. The seal is incorporated directly into the lid structure, and the opening prevention features are built into the lid-body interface, eliminating the need for separate complex mechanisms while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The container design includes self-latching features and automatic seal engagement that prevent accidental opening without requiring additional active components. The lid automatically secures to the body through its own structural features, and the seal self-engages upon closure, providing reliability through passive self-service mechanisms rather than complex active systems.
3Ease of operation
If the container opening is made accessible for easy dispensing, then ease of operation improves, but product integrity and spill prevention worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The container top is segmented into distinct functional zones: a sealed dispensing opening for controlled product removal, and a separate press portion activation area. This segmentation allows the opening to be easily accessible for dispensing while the sealed configuration and separate activation mechanism maintain product integrity and prevent spillage until intentional opening occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid serves as an intermediary element between the product interior and external environment. It provides a controlled interface that maintains product integrity when closed while enabling easy dispensing when opened through the designed opening mechanism, mediating between the conflicting requirements of accessibility and protection.
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 convenient one-handed dispensing of product pieces while preventing accidental opening and facilitating efficient filling, ensuring product integrity and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible press portion extending from the lid portion to the side face over the concave top segment face, which is normally convex to the concave top face segment, wherein application of a downward force to the convex flexible press portion transforms the convex portion to a concave portion and rotates the lid portion to uncover the opening
Data Source
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AI summary
A container (10) suitable for dispensing comestible products has a body (12) with a top face segment (36) having an opening (14) and a concave top face segment (18) and a separate continuous member (40) connected to a side face (24), the member having an openable lid portion (42) which covers the opening and a flexible press portion (50) extending from the lid portion to the side face over the concave top segment face, which is normally convex to the concave top face segment, wherein application of a downward force to the convex flexible press portion transforms the convex portion to a concave portion and rotates the lid portion to uncover the opening.