Rotating Corner-Dispensing Container With Leak-Blocking Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for dispensing small items like candy or mints often lack a secure and efficient mechanism to control the dispensing process, leading to potential leakage or difficulty in accessing the contents.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a rotating top cover and bottom shell with an intermediate connector and annular rings that allow for controlled dispensing by exposing a corner of the bottom shell when rotated, while ribs in the closed configuration prevent contents from escaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a twist top with small opening is used, then the container can dispense small items, but the mechanism is not secure and may leak
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs a dynamic rotating top cover that transitions between closed and open positions. The top cover rotates approximately 45 degrees to expose the corner opening, allowing controlled dispensing while maintaining security in the closed position. This dynamic mechanism replaces static twist tops with a more reliable rotational system.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening mechanism is localized to specific corners of the container rather than a general opening. The bottom shell features corners that are selectively exposed through rotation, and the intermediate connector has precisely positioned openings at corners, allowing dispensing only from specific locations while maintaining integrity elsewhere.
2Reliability
If the top cover is sealed tightly, then contents are secure, but access to contents becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The top cover rotates approximately 45 degrees from a closed position to an open position, dynamically transitioning between security and accessibility. This rotational movement allows the same sealed structure to provide both content security when closed and easy access when opened, eliminating the need to choose between the two opposing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening is segmented to occur only at specific corners rather than a general opening. The intermediate connector and bottom shell are designed with corner-specific openings that are exposed during rotation, allowing minimal access at corners while maintaining overall seal integrity of the container body.
3Ease of operation
If corners are exposed for dispensing, then access is improved, but contents may leak in closed configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The corner openings are dynamically controlled through rotation. In the closed position, the top cover and intermediate connector align to seal the corner openings. Upon 45-degree rotation, the alignment changes to expose the corner openings for dispensing. This dynamic control ensures corners are sealed when not in use and accessible when needed, preventing leakage while improving access.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate connector acts as an intermediary component between the top cover and bottom shell. It features annual rings with retention stops and clips that engage with corresponding features on the top cover, mediating the sealing and opening actions at the corners while maintaining overall container integrity.
4Ease of operation
If a rotating mechanism is added, then dispensing control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs a dynamic rotating top cover that transitions between closed and open positions. The top cover rotates approximately 45 degrees to expose the corner opening, allowing controlled dispensing while maintaining security in the closed position. This dynamic mechanism replaces static twist tops with a more reliable rotational system.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational mechanism is designed to be manually operated by the user without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems. The user simply rotates the top cover to access contents, and the retention stops and clips automatically engage and disengage to maintain sealing or allow opening, making the system self-regulating.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a container having a bottom shell and a top cover configured for partial rotation with respect to each other. In its closed configuration the container maintains the items in an interior holding region, while in the open configuration the container exposes a section that opens to the interior holding region and which permits the items to be dispensed by the user.