Hinged Insulating Container With Secure Latching and Pressure Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insulating containers are often not durable, with lids that can be lost or broken, handles that protrude and are susceptible to breakage, and ineffective latches that fail to secure the lid in a closed position, rendering the container useless.
Innovation Solution
The insulating container features a hinged lid with a secure latch system, a telescopic pull handle assembly, and a pressure regulation device to vent pressure changes, along with integrally formed handles and a gasket for a watertight seal, enhancing durability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lids are used without secure latching mechanisms, then the container structure remains simple, but the lid becomes prone to loss or breakage and fails to secure properly
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a latch member with engaging surface, a keeper with receiving surface, and a spring element. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while distributing the complexity across discrete parts rather than a monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A spring element serves as an intermediary between the latch member and the keeper, providing the necessary force to engage and disengage the latch. The spring acts as a mediator that enables reliable connection without requiring complex actuation mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If handles protrude from the base portion to improve accessibility, then ease of operation increases, but the handles become susceptible to breakage and protrusion issues
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is formed as an integral part of the base portion using a flexible material that can be molded into the required shape. This integration eliminates separate handle components that would be prone to breakage, while the flexible material allows the handle to be formed smoothly without sharp protrusions.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is merged with the base portion as a single integral structure. This combining of functions ensures that the handle benefits from the structural strength of the base while maintaining accessibility, eliminating the weakness of separate handle attachments.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the container is made completely waterproof with a seal, then protection against water ingress improves, but pressure changes inside the container cannot be regulated
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is positioned at specific locations where sealing is most critical, rather than sealing the entire container. This localized sealing approach provides water protection where needed while leaving pathways for pressure regulation in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressure relief valve acts as an intermediary mechanism that allows pressure to be regulated while maintaining the overall seal integrity. The valve provides a controlled pathway for pressure release without compromising the waterproof seal during normal operation.
4Ease of operation
If a telescopic pull handle assembly is added to improve ease of use, then operational convenience increases, but the device complexity and potential failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pull handle assembly uses a telescopic mechanism with movable segments that can extend and retract dynamically. This dynamic structure allows the handle to adapt to different usage scenarios while maintaining a compact form when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic mechanism incorporates self-locking features and automatic retraction capabilities that reduce the need for manual operation. The mechanism serves itself by automatically maintaining its position and reducing wear, thereby lowering operational complexity.
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 solution provides a durable and secure insulating container with a reliable lid closure mechanism, improved handle design, and pressure regulation, ensuring effective temperature maintenance and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
A gasket may be configured to provide a watertight seal when the lid is in a closed and secured position
Implementation Method 2
a pressure regulation device to vent pressure changes
Implementation Method 3
an insulating container may be used to maintain a temperature of the contents being stored
Data Source
AI summary
An insulating container having a base and a lid is provided. The lid may be rotatable about a hinge from a closed configuration to an open configuration and may be secured, via one or more latching devices, in the closed configuration. In some examples, the insulating container further includes a drain plug assembly with a main tube, an outer tube, and a gasket that is located and installed within a pass through of the wall of the insulating container. The drain plug assembly may include ratchet features so the main tube cannot rotate/open when the main tube is screwed into the outer tube. In other examples, the insulating container further includes a pull handle assembly with a telescopic three-stage arm and/or a wheel assembly with a pair of wheels mounted with one or two axles, and further including a wheel grommet for absorbing shock and cushioning the axle.