Rotating Knob Lever Mechanism for Airtight Container Lids

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional airtight containers require significant force to open, often causing the container body to shake and spill contents, especially for larger sizes, and have structural defects that lead to air leakage and food spillage, making them difficult for housewives and children to use and inefficient for stacking.

Innovation Solution

An airtight container design featuring a rotating knob connected to the container body via a film hinge, with a latching bump and lid extension portion that uses the principle of a lever to easily open the lid without shaking, and a closed loop-shaped packing member made of soft resin for improved airtight sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large rotating knob with latching groove is used to maintain locked state of large container, then locking reliability is improved, but opening force required increases and container body shakes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocked state maintenanceVSAvoidopening force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating knob is divided into two functional parts: a latching groove portion for maintaining the locked state with the latching protrusion, and a separate pushing portion that directly pushes the lid upward. This segmentation allows the knob to provide both reliable locking and easy opening without requiring excessive force

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pushing portion of the rotating knob acts as an intermediary element that directly transmits opening force to the lid through vertical pushing motion. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for users to directly overcome the strong latching force, as the pushing portion provides mechanical assistance to lift the lid

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If large latching protrusion is used for large container, then locking reliability is improved, but opening force required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocked state maintenanceVSAvoidlid opening ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating knob is divided into two functional parts: a latching groove portion for maintaining the locked state with the latching protrusion, and a separate pushing portion that directly pushes the lid upward. This segmentation allows the knob to provide both reliable locking and easy opening without requiring excessive force

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pushing portion of the rotating knob acts as an intermediary element that directly transmits opening force to the lid through vertical pushing motion. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for users to directly overcome the strong latching force, as the pushing portion provides mechanical assistance to lift the lid

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If rotating knob protrudes horizontally when not locked, then locking function is maintained, but packaging capacity increases and alignment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking functionVSAvoidpackaging capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating knob is designed to rotate between two positions: when locked, the latching groove engages with the latching protrusion; when not locked, the knob rotates to a vertical position where it does not protrude horizontally. This dynamic positioning allows the knob to maintain locking function when needed while minimizing packaging volume and maintaining alignment when not in use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 easy opening of the lid with minimal force, preventing spills and allowing for efficient stacking and packing without increased packaging capacity, while maintaining airtightness and ease of use for all users, including children and the elderly.

Implementation Method 1

a rotating knob connected to the container body via a film hinge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

uses the principle of a lever to easily open the lid without shaking

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever: Lever

Data Source

PatentEP3403945B1Airtight container
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 WANG SOO JUNG
  • EP3403945B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3403945B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3403945B1 patent drawingFigure 4a

AI summary

Disclosed is an airtight container 10 in which a lid 30 is easily opened by the principle of the lever thus preventing broth from splashing out when the lid is opened. The airtight container includes a container body 20 having a latching bump 24 and a bent flange 23, a rotating knob 29 connected to the flange 23 and having an opening-closing plate 27 and a step portion 28, the lid having a latching protrusion 32, a downwardly bent flange 30a and a lid extension portion 33, wherein, when the rotating knob 29 is just rotated upward in a state where the lid is coupled to the container body, the opening-closing plate 27 lifts the lid extension portion 33 by "the principle of the lever" while the step portion 28 prevents the lid extension portion 33 from spreading outwards, thereby allowing the latching protrusion 32 to be released from the latching bump 24 and the lid to be opened from the container body.