Hinged Food Container with Snap-Fit Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for food products require complex closing operations and do not ensure airtight sealing, leading to contamination and condensate formation, which complicates viewing and storage.
Innovation Solution
A container with a hinge-connected base and cover made from transparent, antifog plastic, featuring sealing and closing means that allow for a single, quick operation to achieve airtight closure, preventing contamination and condensate formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex closing operations are used to guarantee package closing, then sealing reliability is improved, but operation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The closing system is divided into distinct functional elements: sealing means (26) with projecting grooves on the base, complementary sealing means (36) with recessed grooves on the cover, closing means (28) as protrusions, and complementary closing means (38) as recesses. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function independently, enabling reliable sealing through the groove interengagement while achieving quick closing through the simple protrusion-recess snap-fit action.
2Reliability
If complex closing operations are used to guarantee package closing, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function and closing function are merged into a unified closure system where the sealing means (26) and closing means (28) are integrated on the base, and the complementary sealing means (36) and complementary closing means (38) are integrated on the cover. This merging eliminates the need for separate sealing and closing mechanisms, achieving reliable airtight closure through the coordinated interaction of groove and protrusion-recess pairs while keeping the overall device simple.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard sealing methods are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but airtightness and contamination prevention are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The container is manufactured as a single piece of flexible plastic material that can be bent along the common side (15) to form the hinge connection between base (11) and cover (12). This flexible monolithic construction enables the creation of precise sealing grooves (26, 36) that form airtight barriers, preventing contamination and condensate formation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through single-mold production.
4Illumination intensity
If transparent material is used for viewing, then product visibility is improved, but condensate formation occurs on the inner surface
Solution Approach 1:
The airtight sealing system created by the interengaging grooves (26, 36) and the hinge-connected cover establishes an isolated internal environment within the container. This sealed inert atmosphere prevents external moisture from contacting the transparent inner surfaces, eliminating condensate formation while maintaining clear product visibility through the transparent plastic material.
Data Source
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AI summary
A container (10) for food products comprising: a base (11) and a cover (12) mutually hinged; sealing means (26) and closing means (28) arranged on an upper edge (24) of the base (11) and adapted to be associated with complementary sealing means (36) and complementary closing means (38) arranged on a lower edge (34) of the cover (12); the cover (12) comprises a front face (31) with stiffening means (39) of the cover; the base (11) comprises a rear face (21) with stiffening means (29) of the base; and the front face (31) of the cover (12) further comprises a reinforcing element (42) for airtight closing the cover (12) on the base (11) and to prevent the cover (12) from opening following a compression of the lower face (22).