L-Shaped Wrap-Around Lid With Spring-Loaded Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink container lids for inkjet printers often fail to secure tightly to the body, leading to improper alignment and installation issues, as well as a potential impression of defectiveness due to looseness, which can result in fit and functional problems within the printer.
Innovation Solution
A wrap-around lid design with a spring-loaded lever latch and dual-taper interlocking mechanism between the lid and body, ensuring a secure fit and alignment, while allowing for economical color matching with the ink, using molded plastic parts and biasing spacers for a tight assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a wrap-around lid is used to secure the ink container, then the alignment and fit are improved, but the lid may still flex or feel loose to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is pre-formed with an integrated latch mechanism during the molding process, positioning the latch in advance to engage with the body's latch receiving feature. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the lid is installed, the latch automatically secures the lid to the body, preventing flexing or loosening during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is merged with the lid as a single integrated component rather than a separate part. This combination ensures that the latch and lid move together as one unit, eliminating relative motion between the latch and lid that could cause loosening, while maintaining precise alignment throughout operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the latch is molded as part of the body, then manufacturing is simplified, but the latch cannot be matched to the ink color
Solution Approach 1:
The latch is merged with the lid as a single molded part, allowing both components to be produced together in the same color as the lid. This integration maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling the latch to be color-matched to the ink container lid, solving the color matching limitation.
3Ease of operation
If the lid is not held tightly to the body, then assembly is easier, but the container appears defective and may not fit properly in the printer
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is pre-configured in the lid during molding, positioned to automatically engage with the body's latch receiving feature. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the lid is installed, it is immediately secured in the correct position, preventing dimensional variations and maintaining precise container dimensions without requiring complex assembly operations.
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 secure interlocking mechanism ensures proper function and aesthetics by maintaining the lid's alignment and fit, preventing impressions of defectiveness and ensuring compatibility with the printer, while allowing for cost-effective color matching with the ink.
Implementation Method 1
A spring-loaded lever latch is integrated into the lid
Implementation Method 2
dual-taper interlocking mechanism between the lid and body
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment a fluid container includes: a housing having a chamber therein for holding a fluid, the housing defined at least in part by a rectangular box and a one piece, L-shaped lid; and a first leg of the lid extending along and closing a first, open side of the box and a second leg of the lid extending along and interlocked with a closed, second side of the box disposed perpendicular to the first side of the box.