Movable Perforation Platform for Container Lids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container accessories for liquids, such as yogurt and beverages, are impractical due to manual handling requirements, potential spills from large openings, and high costs, making them cumbersome and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A topper with a movable perforation platform and breakable portions that securely engage a container's lid, allowing for controlled perforation with minimal user effort and reduced risk of spills, featuring a body with a skirt and top part, and integral hinges and breakable connections for easy attachment and controlled perforation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lid is glued to a flange of the container, then the seal is secure, but the operation of removing the lid is impractical and may cause liquid content to be spilled
Solution Approach 1:
The lid system is segmented into a permanent sealed lid that remains attached to the container, and a separate removable topper that provides access. The topper can be easily removed and replaced, allowing users to access the liquid content without compromising the seal security of the main lid.
2Ease of manufacture
If a perforation accessory is manually placed on the lid, then perforation can be achieved, but the accessory requires careful manual handling which is detrimental for handiness and may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The perforation function is merged into the topper itself, which is already a familiar and convenient accessory for container access. The topper integrates a perforating element that automatically engages with the lid when the topper is placed on it, eliminating the need for separate manual perforation accessories and their associated handling complexities.
3Reliability
If a moveable part with a cutting edge is used for perforation, then reliable perforation is achieved, but the accessory becomes complex, bulky and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The complex moveable mechanism with cutting edges is extracted and replaced by a simple integrally formed perforating element within the topper. The perforating element is designed to work with the container lid geometry, achieving reliable perforation through its shape and positioning rather than through complex mechanical mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If known perforation accessories are used, then perforation can be achieved, but they may create excessively large openings in the container if handled without necessary caution, causing beverage to be spilled
Solution Approach 1:
The perforating element is designed with specific local geometric features that match the container lid structure. This ensures that perforation occurs at precise, controlled locations with appropriate opening sizes, preventing excessive material removal and reducing the risk of liquid spillage while maintaining easy access.
Data Source
AI summary
A topper for a container having an upper surface is presented. The topper includes: a body adapted to engage an upper surface of the container, and a movable perforation platform having at least one protruding perforating element. The perforation platform is pushable with respect to the body from a resting position to a working position wherein the perforating element perforates the upper surface of the container. The perforation platform presents in resting position a first orientation and presents in working position a second orientation, the first and the second orientation differing by an angle of less than 30° . Also, an assembly and a method of using the assembly are presented.