Beverage Container Lid Seal Assembly for Easy Cleaning Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional beverage container seal/trigger mechanisms are difficult to clean, especially in dishwasher environments, due to debris retention and hard-to-reach areas between components.
Innovation Solution
A movable trigger/seal mechanism that rotates between an operable position for use and a cleaning position, allowing for easy access and cleaning without disassembly, featuring a seal assembly with drink and vent seals, and a trigger mechanism connected to the lid housing with a locking system to prevent engagement during cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the seal assembly is fixed in the lid, then the structure is simple and reliable, but it is difficult to clean and debris is retained between components
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to rotate between an operable position (flush with lid surface) and a cleaning position (rotated away from lid surface). This dynamic configuration enables easy access to previously hard-to-reach areas for cleaning while maintaining structural integrity through the rotatable connection mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly is rotated away from the lid surface into a different spatial dimension, creating clearance space between the seal assembly and lid that was not accessible when the seal assembly was fixed flush against the lid. This dimensional change allows cleaning tools to access and clean debris from between components effectively.
2Ease of operation
If the seal assembly is removed from the lid for cleaning, then cleaning access is improved, but components may be misplaced or lost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of complete removal, the seal assembly is rotatably connected to the lid, allowing it to be positioned in a cleaning orientation while remaining physically attached. The rotatable connection maintains component association throughout the cleaning process, eliminating the risk of misplacement while providing full cleaning access.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly is extracted from its fixed position and made independently movable relative to the lid through rotatable connection. This extraction allows the seal assembly to be positioned optimally for cleaning while maintaining its connection to the lid structure, preventing loss or misplacement.
3Ease of manufacture
If the trigger mechanism is fixed, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate the seal assembly in the cleaning position
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is made rotatable rather than fixed, allowing it to rotate along with the seal assembly between operable and cleaning positions. This dynamic adjustment enables the trigger mechanism to accommodate both the functional position for operation and the rotated position for cleaning, providing position flexibility while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable trigger mechanism serves multiple functions: it operates the seal assembly in the normal operable position and simultaneously accommodates the seal assembly in the rotated cleaning position. This multi-functionality allows a single mechanism design to handle both operational and cleaning requirements without requiring separate structures.
4Ease of operation
If the seal assembly rotates away from the lid, then cleaning access is improved, but the connection mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A rotatable connection mechanism is implemented between the seal assembly and lid, allowing the seal assembly to rotate away from the lid surface for cleaning while maintaining a secure connection. This dynamic connection provides cleaning access while keeping the mechanism relatively simple through the use of rotatable joints rather than complex disassembly systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly is extracted from the fixed lid structure and given independent rotational movement capability. This extraction creates the necessary clearance for cleaning access while the rotatable connection maintains a straightforward mechanical link between the seal assembly and lid, avoiding overly complex connection mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A lid assembly for a beverage container having a lid housing, a seal assembly and a trigger member. The seal assembly has one or more drink seals that engage a corresponding one or more drink apertures to close the drink apertures. The seal assembly is rotatedly connected to the lid housing and movable between a use position and a cleaning position for cleaning. The trigger member is connected to the lid housing and is capable of engaging the seal assembly in the use position, but not in the cleaning position. The trigger member is connected to the seal assembly such that the vent aperture is opened during a first portion of the operation of the trigger, and the drink apertures are opened during a second portion of the operation of the trigger so that the vent aperture is opened before the drink apertures.