Lateral Keyway Spring Hinge for Stable Flip-Top Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smoking apparatuses face issues with complex latches, accidental triggers, unstable positioning, and cumbersome sliding covers, leading to lost or insecure storage and reduced portability.
Innovation Solution
A flip-top apparatus with a spring-hinged lid and lateral sliding cover, featuring a keyway opening and a spring hinge that securely locks in both closed and open positions, providing stability and ease of use with a lower center of gravity and wider footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex latches are used to secure the lid, then the storage security is improved, but the device complexity increases and accidental triggers occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex latch mechanism entirely from the system. Instead of using a traditional latch to secure the lid, the invention employs a spring-hinged lid that automatically opens and closes without requiring any latching components. This extraction of the latch mechanism eliminates the associated complexity and accidental trigger problems while maintaining storage security through the natural spring tension and gravitational forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-hinged lid system is self-regulating and requires no external control mechanisms. The spring tension automatically keeps the lid closed during transport, and when the chamber is tilted, gravity naturally opens the lid without requiring user intervention or complex locking/unlocking actions. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for latches while maintaining secure storage.
2Stability of the object's composition
If sliding covers are used to stabilize the apparatus in open position, then the stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome sliding and indexing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the sliding cover component entirely. Instead of using a separate sliding cover to stabilize the apparatus in the open position, the invention uses the spring-hinged lid itself, which naturally rests at a stable angle when opened. This extraction removes the cumbersome sliding and indexing operations while maintaining stability through the inherent properties of the spring hinge mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a sliding cover to achieve stability (adding a component), the invention inverts the approach by using the lid's own hinge mechanism to provide stability. The spring hinge allows the lid to rest naturally at various angles when opened, providing stability without requiring additional sliding components or complex indexing mechanisms.
3Reliability
If multiple springs and tricky mechanisms are used, then the storage security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes multiple springs and tricky mechanisms from the system. Instead of using multiple springs to secure the lid, the invention employs a single spring hinge that provides both the closing force and the stable open position. This extraction of redundant spring mechanisms significantly reduces device complexity while maintaining storage security through the simplified single-spring hinge design.
4Reliability
If the apparatus is designed for secure containment, then the storage security is improved, but the portability and single-handed operation capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-hinged lid system is self-regulating and requires no manual manipulation for securing or opening. The spring tension automatically keeps the lid closed during transport, and when the chamber is tilted, gravity naturally opens the lid without requiring user intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains secure containment while enabling easy single-handed operation, as the user simply needs to tilt the chamber to access the contents.
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 apparatus achieves enhanced stability and secure storage, allowing single-handed operation and preventing accidental opening or closure, while maintaining accessibility to smoking accessories.
Implementation Method 1
A lid with a spring hinge compelled to close is attached to the upper surface of the body
Implementation Method 2
The spring hinge lid is released to wedge against the lateral slidable cover, propping the lid and cover both to an open position
Data Source
AI summary
A flip-top portable apparatus intended to contain organic smoking material, paraphernalia, cosmetics, or ingredients. The apparatus is fashioned with a body and lid connected together with a spring hinge or biasing element. An improved slidably operated cover is located on a lateral surface and is held securely in a closed position by the spring hinge lid. Urging the slidably operated cover to an open position will gain access to the storage chamber of the apparatus. The novel idea is that, in this arrangement, when the improved slidably activated cover is opened enough to reveal the storage chamber, the open spring hinge lid biases against the open cover and holds the cover in the selected position and, consequently, the apparatus is more stable than others when open. An included disclosure for an improved spring hinge design also featured in the specification.