Recyclable Folding Lid With Overlapping Wings for Tight Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging solutions for containers often require non-recyclable materials and lack flexibility in accommodating different container types, leading to inefficiencies and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A folding lid made from recyclable material with integrally formed wing elements that pivot to cover the container opening, allowing independent production of lids and containers, and a method for packaging items using these lids, which can be applied to various containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a lid is formed using lid elements that are pivoted from outside inwards for closing the container opening, then the container opening can be closed, but the lid elements partially overlap with one another requiring additional materials and complex assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple lid elements into a single integral base element with integrated flaps. The flaps are directly formed as part of the base element through integral forming, eliminating the need for separate lid components that need to be assembled and overlapped, thus simplifying both manufacturing and structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The base element serves multiple functions: it provides the lid body, contains integrated flaps for sealing, and acts as a complete closure mechanism. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate sealing elements and simplifies the overall lid structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If containers and lids are produced independently from different materials or production steps, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but ensuring tight closure without adhesives becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flaps are designed to automatically engage with the container opening through their own geometry and elastic deformation. The integral forming process creates built-in elastic properties that enable the flaps to snap into place and seal tightly without requiring external adhesives or complex fastening mechanisms, ensuring reliable closure despite independent production.
Solution Approach 2:
The flaps are designed with curved folding regions that allow elastic deformation and conformal contact with the container opening. This curvature enables the flaps to adapt to slight variations in container dimensions while maintaining tight sealing through elastic recovery, ensuring reliable closure without adhesives.
3Manufacturing precision
If wing elements are integrally formed onto the base element, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the complexity of the forming process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flaps and base element are merged into a single integral structure formed in one operation. This eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly steps for different lid components, achieving high manufacturing precision through direct integral forming rather than through complex multi-step assembly processes.
4Reliability
If adjacent wing elements overlap in the closed position, then closure reliability is improved, but material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is segmented into multiple flaps that overlap when closed. This segmentation allows each flap to contribute to the sealing function, with the overlap providing redundant sealing coverage that enhances closure reliability while using only the material necessary for the flap structures themselves.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding lid is presented for covering a container opening made from a recyclable material. The folding lid includes: a base element, an accommodating opening, which is formed in the base element and configured to accommodate a container for an item to be packaged in such a manner that a container opening of the container is arranged in the region of the accommodating opening, and at least three wing elements, which are integrally formed onto the base element circumferentially via a respective folding region along an outer edge of the base element with respect to the accommodating opening; wherein the at least three wing elements can each be pivoted between an open position, in which the accommodating opening is cleared, and a closed position, in which the at least three wing elements cover the accommodating opening completely, wherein adjacent wing elements of the at least three wing elements at least partially overlap in the closed position.