Reclosable Container Cover With Impact-Activated Secondary Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reclosable containers fail to maintain a secure closure during accidental falls, particularly when inverted, due to unintentional springing open of the primary locking mechanism, which is undesirable for valuable or hazardous contents.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a secondary coupling body that bends into an active position during an impact, providing additional locking to prevent the primary locking from opening unintentionally, ensuring the container remains closed during dynamic events like falls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a primary locking mechanism is used to secure the container closure, then reliable closure is achieved under normal conditions, but the locking mechanism springs open unintentionally during falls or impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling body is designed as a dynamic element that can change its configuration in response to impact forces. During normal closure, the coupling body maintains a first configuration that secures the lid. During impact or fall, the coupling body automatically transitions to a second configuration that prevents unintended opening, thus adapting the locking mechanism's behavior to dynamic conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates a cushioning element that is positioned to engage with the coupling body during impact events. This cushioning element absorbs and mitigates the forces generated during falls or impacts, preventing these forces from propagating to the locking mechanism and causing unintended opening. The cushioning action occurs before the impact forces can compromise the primary locking
2Ease of operation
If the container is designed to be reclosable with a simple locking mechanism, then ease of operation is improved, but the locking mechanism lacks sufficient strength to prevent opening during impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling body serves dual functions through its dynamic capability: during normal operation, it provides simple locking engagement for ease of operation; during impact, it automatically reconfigures to engage with the cushioning element, providing enhanced locking strength without requiring complex manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The cushioning element acts as an intermediary between the impact forces and the locking mechanism. It absorbs impact energy and transfers reduced forces to the coupling body, allowing the simple locking mechanism to maintain both ease of operation and sufficient strength during impacts
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 secondary locking mechanism effectively maintains the container's closure during impacts, preventing unintended opening and ensuring reliability even under dynamic conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a secondary coupling body (32) which, when the side flap (28) is put in the locking position, projects through a locking passage (34) in the cover profile (26), and moreover extends into a receiving space (14) that is provided on each of the two opposite outer sides of the upper zone (7) of the bin (1), said secondary coupling body being of bendable configuration
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a reclosable container including an assembly of a bin and a separate cover that is designed to close and lock the bin.The bin includes a bottom wall and a vertical side wall connected thereto, said side wall including an upper zone that surrounds an access opening of the bin.The cover includes an upper surface that is dimensioned to cover the access opening of the bin. A perimeter of the upper surface is provided with a cover profile, said cover profile being formed complementary to the upper zone of the bin, so that the cover profile can be placed abutting on the upper zone of the bin in order to close the access opening of the bin.Two opposite outer sides of the upper zone are each provided with a primary coupling body for locking the cover when the cover is placed in the closing position on the bin.Two opposite outer sides of the cover profile are each provided with a side flap that is provided with a window that is designed to engage on the primary coupling body so that primary locking between cover and bin is achieved. The side flap is connected tiltably to the cover profile in such a way that the side flap can be placed in a locking position and in an unlocking position.