Insulated Container Receptacle and Lid Seal for Spill Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Soft-sided insulated containers lack adequate protection for delicate items, as they can become crushed or damaged during transport, and existing rigid inserts can cause damage to less durable items due to contact with more durable items within the container, while also failing to provide a secure seal against spills and leaks.
Innovation Solution
A container assembly with a soft-sided insulated wall structure and a removable, stiffer receptacle that forms a seal with a closure member in an interference fit, along with a thermal storage element that can be positioned variably within the container for temperature control and used as a support surface, enhancing protection and sealing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid insert is used to protect items from external forces, then protection from external forces is improved, but damage from internal forces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into two distinct structural layers: a soft-sided outer container and a rigid inner insert. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specialized function - the outer container absorbs external forces through flexibility, while the inner insert protects items from internal forces through rigidity, thereby resolving the contradiction between protecting from external and internal forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid insert acts as an intermediary between the soft outer container and the stored items. It mediates the interaction by absorbing and distributing internal forces that arise from item movement and contact, preventing direct damage to delicate items while allowing the soft outer container to handle external protective functions.
2Reliability
If a stiff seal is used to prevent spills and leaks, then sealing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism merges multiple functions into a single integrated assembly: the lid provides structural closure, the gasket seal ensures liquid-tight sealing, and the snap-fit mechanism enables secure attachment. This consolidation achieves reliable spill prevention while minimizing complexity by eliminating the need for separate sealing components and complex fastening systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap-fit closure mechanism is designed to be self-aligning and self-sealing. The rigid insert's rim guides the lid into proper position, the gasket automatically engages to create the seal, and the snap-fit features self-lock upon engagement. This self-service design achieves reliable sealing without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or multiple components.
Data Source
AI summary
A soft sided insulated container assembly includes a first portion having an insulated, soft sided external wall structure, and an internal, substantially rigid molded plastic receptacle mounted therein. It has a cover structure that includes a reinforcement member for engaging a land region of the molded receptacle, thereby tending to yield an interface tending to have a sealing relationship. Both the receptacle and the engaging seal member of the lid may be outwardly splayed. The container may also include a thermal storage element, and the container may have an accommodation for receiving the thermal storage element.