Lid Retention Assemblies for Sealed Buckets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices that seal buckets and lids often suffer from increased dimensions and snagging issues due to traditional tab configurations, which compromise seal integrity and are prone to inadvertent opening.
Innovation Solution
The use of retention assemblies with clips and tabs positioned on the lid face, where tabs are secured with fasteners that pass through holes into blind holes in the lid, generating a force to bias the lid and bucket together without penetrating the lid or bucket, thus maintaining seal integrity and reducing overall dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tabs are positioned on the bucket rather than the lid, then the tabs can engage the lid more directly, but the tabs become prone to snagging objects and causing inadvertent opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional tab placement by positioning tabs on the lid face instead of the bucket. This inversion moves the tabs to a location that is protected from external snagging while maintaining their sealing function through the retention assembly mechanism.
2Strength
If fasteners extend completely through the lid to secure tabs, then the tabs can be firmly attached, but the barrier integrity of the lid is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fasteners are nested within the lid by extending only partially through it, securing the tabs to the lid face without penetrating completely. This nesting approach maintains the lid's barrier integrity while providing sufficient attachment strength for the tabs.
3Reliability
If traditional tab configurations are used, then the sealing function is achieved, but the overall dimensions of the device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retention assembly utilizes the lid face area (two-dimensional space) to position tabs, rather than extending elements outward in the third dimension. This dimensional approach maintains compact device dimensions while achieving the sealing function through the interplay of tabs, clips, and biasing forces.
4Force
If tabs extend along the bucket to engage the lid, then the engagement force is direct, but the tabs are prone to inadvertent opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces clips as intermediary elements between the tabs and the lid-bucket interface. The clips, biased by the tabs, provide the engagement force while the tabs themselves remain protected on the lid face, preventing inadvertent opening while maintaining direct force transmission through the clipping mechanism.
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
This configuration creates a secure, air and/or water-tight seal without increasing the device's dimensions and minimizes snagging, allowing for adjustable force application and easy access to internal components.
Implementation Method 1
the retention assemblies can include one or more clips and tabs. The tabs can be secured to the face of the lid without penetrating the lid and sacrificing the seal integrity. The tabs can generate a force that can be imparted on the clips to bias the lid and bucket together to create a seal
Data Source
AI summary
The description relates to device retention assemblies. One example can include a bucket having an open end and defining a volume that contains electronic components. The example can also include a lid positioned over the open end of the bucket. A retention assembly can be configured to bias the lid against the bucket to seal the open end. The retention assembly can include a tab that is secured to the lid with a fastener that extends through the retention assembly into the lid without extending completely through the lid and does not contact the bucket.