Drink container and leak proof plug lid for use therewith

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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 when used with containers of varying interior diameters, limiting their usability.

Innovation Solution

A three-position plug lid design with a flexible tubular seal and cam mechanism that allows for secure retention, easy drinking, and removable states without the need for full lid removal, utilizing a handle to rotate between operational positions to control the seal's compression and openness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a threadably attached lid is used, then a fluid-tight seal can be achieved, but the time and effort required to attach or remove the lid increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid-tight sealVSAvoidtime to attach or remove lid

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The lid is divided into a body portion and a separate closure portion that can be independently manipulated. The closure portion can be opened or closed without removing the entire lid from the container, allowing quick access to the beverage while maintaining the seal when closed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lid incorporates a dynamic hinge mechanism that allows the closure portion to rotate between open and closed positions. This dynamic structure enables rapid opening and closing actions without the need for threading or unscrewing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a plug lid design is used, then attachment and removal is simplified, but the lid cannot retain sealing position during drinking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of attaching and removing lidVSAvoidsealing position retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lid is segmented into a body portion that provides the seal and a closure portion that controls opening. The closure portion can be independently opened for drinking while the body portion remains sealed and retained in place by the interference fit with the container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The closure portion is nested within the body portion of the lid, allowing it to rotate open for drinking while remaining contained within the overall lid structure. This nested arrangement maintains the sealing function while enabling easy opening and closing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a wide size tolerance lid is used, then compatibility with varying container diameters is improved, but the sealing effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with varying container diametersVSAvoidsealing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lid body portion incorporates a localized resilient sealing element that deforms to conform to the specific container diameter. This localized adaptation at the sealing interface ensures effective sealing across a range of container sizes without requiring the entire lid to have wide dimensional tolerances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing element utilizes material elasticity to change its dimensional parameters dynamically. When the lid is installed, the resilient material deforms to match the container's interior diameter, creating an effective seal regardless of the specific size variation within the designed range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables secure retention of the lid within the container to prevent unintended removal while allowing for easy drinking and filling, maintaining a fluid-tight seal across varying container diameters, simplifying the process of attaching and removing the lid.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient ring seal positioned about the actuator member and in sealing engagement with the container opening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

with a cam mechanism that converts rotational movement of the actuator member into linear motion to move the lid body between a first operational position and a second operational position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Data Source

PatentUS11337534B2Drink container and leak proof plug lid for use therewith

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 PACIFIC MARKET INT LLC

AI summary

A drink container and plug lid for use therewith. The lid has an upper member and a lower member with a ring seal positioned therebetween and radially outwardly stretchable from an initial diameter to a larger sealing diameter in response to an actuator moving the upper and lower members together to place the ring seal in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the container body. Moving the upper and lower members apart allows the radially outward stretched ring seal to move from the sealing diameter to the initial diameter whereat it is out of fluid-tight sealing engagement with the container body.