Reversible Food Box Lid With Bidirectional Steam Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing variable-volume food boxes fail to maintain closure during microwave reheating due to uncontrolled steam evacuation, leading to pressure buildup and potential tray displacement.
Innovation Solution
A reversible lid with bidirectional steam evacuation device, featuring a first valve that opens at pressure P0 and a second valve that seals below P0, ensuring airtightness and preventing leaks, allowing steam passage only when pressure exceeds P0, thus maintaining closure regardless of box configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the box uses a sealed closure system for food storage, then food preservation is improved, but steam cannot escape during microwave heating causing pressure buildup and potential tray displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by designing a pressure-sensitive membrane that changes its state based on pressure parameters. During storage, the membrane remains sealed (low pressure state). During microwave heating, when pressure exceeds threshold P0, the membrane deforms and opens to release steam, then automatically seals again when pressure returns to normal, resolving the contradiction between maintaining closure and releasing pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The bidirectional evacuation device operates autonomously without external control. The pressure-sensitive membrane automatically opens when internal pressure exceeds P0 and closes when pressure returns to normal, enabling the system to self-regulate steam evacuation during microwave heating while maintaining密封性 during storage
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the box allows steam evacuation during microwave heating, then pressure control is improved, but food storage tightness deteriorates due to potential leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-sensitive membrane acts as an intermediary element between the sealed box interior and exterior. It selectively permits steam passage only when pressure exceeds P0, while blocking both air and steam under normal storage conditions. The membrane's selective permeability based on pressure conditions resolves the contradiction between pressure control and storage tightness
3Adaptability or versatility
If the box is designed with variable volume for different food quantities, then storage flexibility is improved, but the closure system complexity increases making microwave heating unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The bidirectional evacuation device with pressure-sensitive membrane serves multiple functions: it maintains seal integrity during storage, enables controlled steam evacuation during microwave heating, and adapts to both single-layer and stacked box configurations. This universal component resolves the contradiction by providing reliable pressure management across different storage and heating scenarios without increasing system complexity
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 safe microwave reheating and storage of both solid and liquid foods by controlling steam release, preventing leaks and maintaining closure, regardless of the box's volume configuration.
Implementation Method 1
the bidirectional evacuation device allows the passage of a flow between the two faces of the lid when the pressure difference between the two faces is greater than or equal to a value P0
Implementation Method 2
said first seal is deformed under the effect of a flow which circulates in the one or more primary channels, so as to allow the passage of the flow
Data Source
AI summary
Reversible lid (1) for a storage or reheating box comprising first (2) sealed fastening means intended to cooperate with an upper edge (4) of a container (5) when the lid (1) is arranged along a first direction on the container (5) and second (3) leaktight fastening means intended to cooperate with the said upper edge (4) of the container (5) when the lid is arranged in the opposite direction on the container (5), characterized in that that the lid (1) comprises a bidirectional device (10) for the evacuation of steam, connecting two opposite faces of the lid and in that the said bidirectional evacuation device (10) allows the passage of a flow between the two faces of the cover (1) when the pressure difference between the two faces is greater than or equal to a value P0, in particular when reheating food in a microwave oven.