Travel Mug Lid Seal Assembly for Triggered Cleaning Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional beverage container trigger mechanisms are difficult to clean, especially in dishwasher environments, due to debris retention between components and complex cleaning access.
Innovation Solution
A lid assembly with a drop-down seal assembly and a trigger mechanism that can be locked to prevent engagement during cleaning, allowing for easy rotation of the seal assembly for cleaning without disassembly, featuring a trigger lock that moves between locked and unlocked positions to control the seal's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the trigger mechanism components are secured together in a fixed location, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of cleaning deteriorates due to debris retention between components
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is divided into separable components including the seal assembly, trigger member, and lock mechanism that can be independently positioned. The seal assembly can be rotated away from the drink surface while remaining connected to the lid housing, allowing cleaning access without complete disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly is made rotatable between a first position (engaging the drink aperture) and a second position (rotated away for cleaning). The lock mechanism dynamically transitions between locked and unlocked states to control the trigger member's movement, enabling easy repositioning during cleaning while maintaining stability during use.
2Ease of operation
If the seal assembly is made rotatable for easy cleaning, then the ease of cleaning is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is integrated with the trigger member and seal assembly through mechanical coupling. The lock engages with features on the trigger member to control seal assembly rotation, combining multiple functions (locking, triggering, sealing) into a unified mechanism rather than separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism automatically transitions between locked and unlocked states based on the position of the seal assembly. When the seal assembly is rotated to the cleaning position, the lock automatically unlocks to allow trigger member movement, and vice versa, reducing the need for manual intervention.
3Reliability
If the trigger lock engages the trigger member to prevent movement, then the reliability is improved by preventing accidental opening, but the ease of operation deteriorates by restricting seal assembly movement
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism dynamically adjusts its engagement state based on operational needs. In the locked state, it prevents accidental trigger activation during normal use. In the unlocked state, it allows free movement of the trigger member for intentional opening or cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism proactively prevents unwanted trigger activation by engaging the trigger member before any accidental movement can occur. The lock is positioned to intercept and block trigger member movement in advance, eliminating the need for reactive measures after accidental opening.
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 a drink seal to close the drink aperture. The seal assembly is rotatedly connected to the lid housing and movable between a use position and a cleaning position to allow the drink aperture to be open for cleaning. The trigger member is connected to the lid housing and is capable of engaging the seal assembly in the use position, but it cannot engage the seal assembly in the cleaning position. Additionally, a trigger lock is connected to the lid housing to prevent engagement of the seal assembly by the trigger member when the trigger lock is locked. The trigger lock may also contain a visual indicator to indicate that the lock is in the locked position.