Locking Drink Lid Valve for Spill-Safe Open and Close Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container lids fail to permanently maintain a drinking aperture unsealed, leading to potential spillage and safety hazards, especially with hot beverages, as they either cannot be sealed once opened or remain permanently open, posing risks during transit or jostling.
Innovation Solution
A container lid with a valve mechanism that includes a single or dual actuator system, allowing temporary unsealing of the drinking aperture and an optional locking mechanism to permanently maintain the aperture unsealed, utilizing a spring-like valve structure with posts and inner walls to secure the unsealed position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lid includes a tab that is bent back over the top of the lid to create a drinking opening, then the drinking opening can be opened, but it becomes impossible to seal the drinking opening again
Solution Approach 1:
The lid transitions from a static seal to a dynamic system with a hinged tab that can pivot between sealed and open positions. The tab is connected via a hinge allowing it to rotate between lying flat (sealed) and bent back (open) positions, enabling reversible operation without permanent deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is divided into separate functional components: the lid body, the hinged tab, and the sealing member. This segmentation allows the tab to independently pivot and the sealing member to remain engaged with the drinking opening when the tab is in the closed position, enabling repeated sealing cycles.
2Ease of operation
If the drinking opening remains open at all times to allow easy drinking, then convenience is improved, but spillage risk increases during transit or jostling
Solution Approach 1:
The lid provides dynamic control over the drinking opening state, allowing the user to switch between sealed (safe during transit) and open (convenient for drinking) positions as needed, rather than being fixed in one state.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinged tab mechanism allows the user to easily open and close the drinking opening without requiring tools or complex operations. The tab naturally returns to the closed sealed position when not actively held open, providing automatic spill prevention.
3Device complexity
If a single actuator is used to both temporarily unseal and permanently lock the valve, then device complexity is reduced, but the operation mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The single actuator serves multiple functions: it can be pressed lightly to temporarily open the valve for drinking, and pressed firmly to permanently lock the valve in the open position. This multi-functionality is achieved through different actuation forces engaging different aspects of the same mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator responds to different levels of applied force (pressure parameter) to produce different outcomes. A light press temporarily opens the valve, while a firm press overcomes the locking mechanism to permanently lock it open, utilizing force magnitude as the distinguishing parameter.
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 lid effectively prevents spillage by sealing the aperture when not in use and maintains it unsealed when desired, enhancing safety and convenience during consumption, particularly with hot beverages.
Implementation Method 1
The valve includes a first portion and a second portion that is used to seal and unseal the drinking aperture. In response to manually applied pressure to the actuator, the bottom surface of the body member abuts the contact region of the second portion of the valve resulting in deflection of the second portion of the valve.
Implementation Method 2
Upon the application of a sufficient second amount of pressure manually applied to the actuator, the second portion of the valve member deforms and is urged beyond the distal ends of the inner post walls. Once the second portion of the valve member is urged beyond the distal ends of the inner post walls, the second portion cannot return to its original position and the drinking aperture remains permanently unsealed.
Data Source
AI summary
A container lid for a fluid container is formed of a flexible resilient material includes a body member having a drinking aperture and a valve. Upon application of a first force to an actuator region of the body member, the valve unseals the drinking aperture and upon removal of the first amount of pressure, the valve reseals the aperture. Upon the application of a second force to the actuator region that is greater than the first force, the valve engages a locking mechanism and the aperture remains unsealed upon removal of the applied second force. In a second embodiment first and second actuator regions are employed and the application of a force to the second actuator region secures the valve in an unsealed orientation.