Removable-Lid Enclosure with Mitered Edges for Secure Habitat Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing enclosures for growing plants and animals are bulky, require large footprints, and have hinged openings with metal hardware that can oxidize and deteriorate, leading to safety and environmental issues due to improper closure and potential animal escape.

Innovation Solution

An enclosure design with a removable lid and mitered edges, using transparent materials like glass or acrylic, and sealed with water-tight materials, featuring a spacer system for airflow and humidity control, ensuring secure closure and structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If hinged openings with metal hardware are used, then the enclosure can be opened and closed, but the metal hardware oxidizes and deteriorates due to water contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening and closing capabilityVSAvoidhardware durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes metal hardware components (hinges, clips, brackets) from the enclosure design. Instead, it uses a removable lid system with complementary fitting edges that join through friction and geometry alone, eliminating the parts susceptible to oxidation and deterioration while maintaining the opening/closing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical hardware system (hinges, clips, brackets) with a geometric joining system based on complementary edges and friction fit. The lid and enclosure body feature precisely engineered edges that interlock through their geometric configuration, substituting metal fastening mechanisms with a material-based geometric connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If clips and brackets are used to attach the cover, then the opening can be closed, but the clips and brackets deteriorate and oxidize when contacted with water

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover attachmentVSAvoidattachment durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates all metal attachment hardware (clips, brackets) from the design. The cover is retained solely through the geometric interlocking of complementary edges between the lid and enclosure body, removing the deteriorating components while preserving the attachment function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs matching materials for the lid and enclosure body that are compatible with water exposure. By using materials like treated wood, plastic, or metal with protective coatings for both components, the system achieves durability in humid environments without relying on metal fasteners that oxidize.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If the opening does not properly close, then access is easy, but animals may escape and environmental conditions are disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidclosure security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric, complementary edge designs where the lid and enclosure body have non-matching geometries that fit together in only one orientation. This asymmetric pairing ensures proper alignment and secure closure, preventing accidental misalignment while maintaining ease of operation through the simple insert-and-lock motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex locking mechanisms that require multiple steps, the patent inverts the approach by designing the edges themselves to provide the locking function. The geometric configuration of the edges creates an inherent locking action during insertion, making the secure closure a natural result of the joining process rather than a separate mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Ease of operation

If hinged openings with doors are used, then the enclosure can be opened, but the enclosure requires a large footprint to accommodate door movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening capabilityVSAvoidfootprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the enclosure into a stationary body and a removable lid component. This segmentation allows the opening function to be achieved through vertical removal rather than horizontal pivoting, eliminating the need for side clearance and reducing the overall footprint requirement while maintaining full access capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250304333A1Enclosure with removable lid and method of formation thereof

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 ULTUM NATURE SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

An enclosure apparatus includes a base in a substantially horizontal orientation, the base includes a base perimeter that is located at the edges of the base. The enclosure includes at least three walls comprising geometric dimensions substantially corresponding to the geometric dimensions of the base when the at least three walls are attached to one another. The enclosure includes a bottom rim located at the lower-vertical side of the at least three walls. The enclosure includes a top rim of the at least three walls. The top rim includes an upper point and a lower point. The enclosure includes a lid comprising geometric dimensions substantially corresponding to the geometric dimensions of the base and the at least three walls. The enclosure includes a perimeter of the lid comprising an outer point of the perimeter and an inner point of the perimeter.