Drink Cup Lid With Pivotable Closure for Hot-Liquid Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drink cup lids do not effectively facilitate easy and secure liquid discharge while maintaining structural integrity, especially when handling hot liquids.
Innovation Solution
A drink cup lid design featuring a ring-shaped brim mount and a central closure with an annular top wall, an outer wall, and a pivotable outlet closure that moves between closed and opened positions, secured by a closure retainer, ensuring stable liquid discharge through a high-elevation outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lid is designed to maintain structural integrity with hot liquids, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation for liquid discharge is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet closure is designed as a movable component that pivots between a closed position (maintaining structural integrity) and an opened position (facilitating liquid discharge). This dynamic mechanism allows the lid to adapt its state based on operational needs while maintaining reliability when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is divided into functional segments: a stationary central closure body that maintains structural integrity, and a separate movable outlet closure component that enables liquid discharge. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function independently.
2Ease of operation
If a pivotable outlet closure is added to enable liquid discharge, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet closure utilizes a simple pivot mechanism that rotates about a horizontal axis, providing ease of operation without requiring complex actuation systems. The movement is achieved through a straightforward hinge connection between the closure plate and the annular top wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure retainer automatically engages with the closure plate to hold it in the opened position without requiring additional actuators or complex retention mechanisms. The system uses the weight and geometry of the components themselves to achieve retention.
Data Source
AI summary
A drink cup lid includes a ring-shaped brim mount adapted to mate with a brim of a drink cup and a central closure surrounded by the ring-shaped brim mount and including an annular top wall formed to include a top aperture and an adjacent liquid-discharge outlet. The drink cup lid further includes an outlet closure configured to close the liquid-discharge outlet.