Living Hinge Cup with Quad Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for non-food items are prone to leaking, complicated to manufacture, expensive, and difficult to recycle due to multi-stream recycling requirements, leading to inefficiencies and environmental issues such as high waste disposal in landfills and oceans.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece, recyclable container with a living hinge and dual seal design made from injection-molded recyclable resin, featuring a quad-directional seal structure and flexible hinge for secure closure, allowing for efficient production and easy recycling without separation of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional multi-component containers are used, then sealing reliability can be improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the container body and lid into a single integrated component made from one piece of material. The living hinge is formed as an integral part of the container wall, eliminating the need for separate hinge components and their associated fastening mechanisms. This merging reduces manufacturing steps while maintaining the sealing function through the dual seal design built into the integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The single-piece container structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the container body, the lid, the hinge mechanism, and the sealing system. The dual seal design (first seal at the lid-container interface and second seal at the hinge) provides both opening/closing functionality and leak prevention in one integrated component, eliminating the need for separate sealing elements.
2Reliability
If traditional multi-material containers are used, then functional performance can be improved, but recyclability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container is constructed from a single material type (such as one piece of plastic or compostable material) throughout the entire structure including the body, lid, and living hinge. This homogeneous construction allows the entire container to be recycled together without requiring separation of different materials, significantly improving recyclability while maintaining functional performance through the optimized single-material design.
3Reliability
If traditional sealing designs are used, then leak prevention can be improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The living hinge is designed as a flexible, thin-walled section that allows the lid to bend and flex relative to the container body. This flexible shell structure provides the necessary movement for opening and closing while maintaining seal integrity. The thin film nature of the hinge allows it to conform to sealing surfaces without requiring complex mechanical sealing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system uses dynamic elements where the living hinge allows the lid to move between open and closed positions. The dual seal design includes a first seal that engages when the lid is closed and a second seal at the hinge that maintains sealing during the flexing motion. This dynamic sealing approach prevents leaks during both static closed position and dynamic opening/closing operations without requiring multiple separate sealing mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to containers for holding non-food items having a living hinge and a quad or multi seal structure on the lid such that the seal created by the contact of the lid with the inside of the cup or container ensures a secure, friction fit orientation to prevent spillage or leakage of the contents therein. The quad or multi directional seal is created by multiple ribs on the lid that securably fit within the base of the container and indentations oriented in the bases, or by multiple ribs on the lid that securably fit within a channel structure in the top of the base of the container, the channel structure having the indentations in order to create a secure fit.