Lid With Hinged Segmented Cover For Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional container-lid systems face issues with environmental changes, such as temperature and humidity, leading to poor packaging quality, including lids becoming stuck or loose, due to differing thermal expansion rates and material interactions, especially when combining compostable and non-compostable materials.
Innovation Solution
A lid construction featuring a cover shell and a first lid rim with a hinge member, where the cover shell is releasably locked to the lid rim, and a locking mechanism, designed to accommodate different thermal expansion properties of materials, ensuring secure sealing and stability despite environmental changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a container-lid system uses materials with different thermal expansion rates (e.g., compostable and non-compostable materials), then environmental benefits are improved through compostability, but packaging reliability deteriorates due to deformation and lid dislodgement under temperature and humidity changes
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into two separate components: a first lid rim that interfaces with the container base and a cover shell that seals the container. These segments are connected through a hinge member, allowing independent movement and deformation of each segment in response to environmental changes, thereby preventing stress concentration and lid dislodgement
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge member enables dynamic movement between the first lid rim and cover shell, allowing the lid structure to adapt to thermal expansion and contraction. This dynamic connection replaces rigid fixed connections, permitting controlled relative motion that accommodates differential thermal expansion between compostable and non-compostable materials
2Reliability
If a rigid locking mechanism is used to secure the lid to the container, then sealing integrity is improved, but adaptability to environmental changes deteriorates, causing the lid to become stuck or deform under temperature and humidity fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism incorporates movable elements that can adjust their position in response to environmental changes. The hinge member allows the cover shell to pivot relative to the first lid rim, enabling the locking mechanism to maintain sealing contact while accommodating thermal expansion and contraction without becoming stuck
Solution Approach 2:
The cover shell and first lid rim are designed with flexible characteristics that allow them to deform elastically under environmental stress. This flexibility enables the locking mechanism to maintain engagement while the structure adapts to temperature and humidity changes, preventing the lid from becoming stuck
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 secure and stable lid system that maintains sealing integrity and prevents deformation-related issues, allowing for the use of both compostable and non-compostable materials while minimizing the impact of environmental changes on packaging performance.
Implementation Method 1
the container-lid and container-base may have conflicting thermal expansion rates and thus react differently to the same changes in the environment
Implementation Method 2
fluctuating moisture and/or temperature can also cause stress to fibers as they alternately swell and contract, resulting in deformations
Data Source
AI summary
A lid for outfitting a container is provided. The lid includes a cover shell defining a first cavity, a clamp including a frustum portion, a clamp horizontal plateau, and an upstanding lip, a hinge member constructed to pivotally interconnect the clamp with the cover shell.