Rotatable Date Indicum Collar for Durable Container Labeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for labeling containers of breast milk, such as using masking tape or adhesive labels, are prone to errors, require frequent replacement, and are not durable, making them inefficient for tracking storage dates and times.
Innovation Solution
A container closure system with a rotatable collar and latching mechanism that allows users to select and display date and time indicia on the lid, enabling easy and intuitive labeling without the need for frequent replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If masking tape or adhesive labels are used for labeling, then the labeling method is simple to implement, but the labels must be overwritten or removed for reuse and are not durable
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is designed to be rotatable relative to the lid, allowing the date indicium to be dynamically adjusted and selected. This dynamic mechanism enables the same physical label to be reused multiple times by simply rotating the collar to different date positions, eliminating the need to overwrite or remove labels.
Solution Approach 2:
The labeling system is segmented into two independent components: the lid with fixed date indicia and the rotatable collar with the aperture. This segmentation allows the collar to be rotated independently to select different dates without affecting the lid or requiring label replacement, thereby improving durability and reusability.
2Ease of operation
If rubber bands with attached notes are used, then the labeling method is easy to apply, but the rubber bands break or lose the attached note
Solution Approach 1:
The date selection mechanism is merged into the closure system itself, with the collar and lid forming an integrated unit. The date indicia are permanently attached to the lid, and the collar provides a stable aperture that rotates to select dates. This integration eliminates the need for separate rubber bands and loose notes, preventing breakage and loss while maintaining ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If a fixed label is used on the container, then the labeling is simple, but it cannot be updated for repeated use of the container
Solution Approach 1:
The collar's rotatable design provides a dynamic date selection capability within a simple overall structure. The user rotates the collar to align the aperture with the desired date on the lid, enabling easy updates for container reuse without complex mechanisms. This maintains simplicity while achieving high adaptability for repeated use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the user to independently select and set the date by rotating the collar without requiring external tools or complex operations. The collar and lid work together in a self-contained manner, where the user simply rotates the collar to the desired date and the system automatically maintains the selection, enabling easy updates for container reuse.
Data Source
AI summary
A closure for a container has a plurality of indicia such as date and/or time, disposed on the lid's top surface, with a rotary collar which is adjustable to a fixed position to highlight (select) indicia regarding the contents of the container.