Three-Position Plug Lid for Leakproof Drink Container Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drink container lids with sealing mechanisms require significant effort and time to attach or remove, and often fail to provide a fluid-tight seal with varying interior diameters of the container bodies, limiting their usability.
Innovation Solution
A three-position plug lid system with a flexible tubular seal and cam mechanism that allows for secure retention, easy removal, and fluid-tight sealing, enabling drinking without lid removal, and easy cleaning or filling by rotating a handle to adjust the seal's compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a threadably attached lid is used, then a fluid-tight seal can be achieved, but significant time and effort are required to attach or remove the lid
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into a head portion and a plug portion that can move relative to each other. The head portion remains on the container while the plug portion can be independently inserted or removed, allowing quick opening without completely detaching the lid structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug lid incorporates a movable plug portion that can dynamically transition between inserted (sealed) and removed (open) positions. This dynamic structure allows rapid state changes without the time-consuming threadable attachment/detachment process.
2Loss of time
If a plug lid is used for easy attachment, then time and effort are reduced, but the lid cannot be used for drinking unless fully removed from the container
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is segmented into a head portion that stays on the container and a plug portion that can be independently positioned. This allows the plug to be partially inserted to create a drinking aperture while maintaining the sealed connection between head and plug, enabling drinking without complete removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug portion can dynamically adjust its position relative to the head portion, allowing it to be partially inserted to create an opening for drinking while maintaining the overall sealed structure. This dynamic positioning enables flexible operation modes.
3Reliability
If a plug lid with tight tolerance is used, then a good fluid-tight seal is achieved, but it cannot accommodate variations in interior diameter of different container bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The plug lid incorporates a flexible membrane that can elastically deform to conform to different interior diameters of container bodies. This flexibility allows the same plug lid design to achieve a reliable fluid-tight seal across varying container sizes without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing interface utilizes elastic deformation to change its dimensional parameters dynamically. When inserted, the flexible membrane expands or contracts to match the container's interior diameter, allowing adaptation to different container sizes while maintaining seal integrity.
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 system allows for secure retention of the lid during use, easy removal for cleaning or filling, and maintains a fluid-tight seal across varying container diameters, enhancing user convenience and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient ring seal mounted on the perimeter lower member portion
Implementation Method 2
stretches the resilient ring seal radially outward to a sealing perimeter position
Data Source
AI summary
A drink container and three position plug lid for use therewith. The lid includes a tubular seal with a flexible perimeter seal wall attached between upper and lower seal carriers, a lifter member attached to the lower seal carrier and a cam member to control movement of the lower seal carrier relative to the upper seal carrier and thereby laterally flex and axially move the perimeter seal wall and move the lid between closed and opened positions where the lid is retained within the drink container against removal, and a removal position permitting removal of the lid for washing the lid and drink container.