Petri Dish Lid with Wedge Interference Means

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers for holding nutrient media, such as Petri dishes, face issues with unintentional loosening of the lid during handling, leading to contamination risks and difficulties in opening or closing the container securely.

Innovation Solution

The container design features engagement means with wedge surfaces or elevations on both the shell and lid, allowing for a secure clamping and sealing effect while enabling easy removal of the lid, preventing unintentional detachment and ensuring a secure closure with adjustable sealing conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lid is placed over the tray wall to close the container, then the container can be closed and secured, but the lid and tray inevitably separate when grasping the lid during handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure securityVSAvoidhandling stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement means are designed so that the lid engages with the tray wall through nested structures - the lid wall engages with the tray wall via interlocking flanges and shoulders, creating a nested connection that prevents separation during handling while maintaining secure closure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If a press fit connection is implemented to securely connect the lid and tray, then unintentional detachment is prevented, but it becomes difficult or impossible to remove the lid from the tray

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidlid removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement means incorporate dynamic elements - the flange and shoulder design allows the lid to be firmly held during normal handling, but enables controlled removal when intentional force is applied, transitioning from a static secure connection to a dynamically controllable connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If engagement means are provided on both the tray and lid to prevent unintentional detachment, then the connection security is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement means combine multiple functions into integrated structures - the flange and shoulder elements serve both as connection features and as part of the overall container structure, merging the engagement function with the structural components rather than adding separate fastening mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2695933B1Receptacle for accepting nutrient media
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 MERCK PATENT GMBH
  • EP2695933B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2695933B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2695933B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The container for the cultivation of microorganisms, cell cultures or bacteria, comprises a transparent plastic bowl (1), and a transparent plastic cover for closing the bowl, three interference means (7) assigned to the bowl and the cover. The bowl and the cover comprise a circular shaped base and -wall. The cover wall has slightly larger inner diameter than the outside diameter of the bowl wall (4) so that one wall is put over the other to close the bowl. The interference means are integral components of the bowl and the cover. The bowl and the cover are manufactured by injection molding. The container for the cultivation of microorganisms, cell cultures or bacteria, comprises a transparent plastic bowl (1), and a transparent plastic cover for closing the bowl, three interference means (7) assigned to the bowl and the cover. The bowl and the cover comprise a circular shaped base and -wall. The cover wall has slightly larger inner diameter than the outside diameter of the bowl wall (4) so that one wall is put over the other to close the bowl. The interference means are integral components of the bowl and the cover. The bowl and the cover are manufactured by injection molding. A circular outer boundary region of the bowl is present for the plant for the cover wall. The bowl wall of the outer boundary region is formed in inwardly shiftable manner and the outside of the bowl wall carries the interference means. The interference means of the cover are formed at the free edge or close to the free edge of the cover wall, are implemented as orthogonal of rest noses, flanges (10) and/or thread-like parts, and have a rest position. The interference means of the bowl have a wedge surface or other elevation for the wedging interference with the interference means of the cover, and are formed in such a manner that the interference means of the cover is bringable through the rotation of the cover opposite to the bowl. The interference means of the cover are inserted on both sides with different clamping and sealing effect. The reciprocal interference is laid out in such a manner that a fixed and/or sealed locking from a side and locking with a defined slot and/or gap to the gas exchange from the other side ago, are present. The interference means are equidistantly arranged. The bowl wall and/or the cover wall have separators (13), which are implemented as bars extending orthogonally from the base. An integral base (14) turned to the outer end of the boundary region is formed in the form of a ring shaped wall. The bowl and/or the cover are provided with a machine-readable coding.