Rotational Locking Container Design to Reduce Clasp Wear and Fatigue
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clasping structures in food containers suffer from wear and material fatigue, leading to a failure in maintaining a secure seal, which compromises food preservation.
Innovation Solution
A rotational locking mechanism using rigid locking tabs and defined apertures, combined with a detent structure for tactile feedback and a venting system, ensures a durable and reliable lock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional clasping structures with flexible plastic clasps are used, then the container can be easily manufactured and assembled, but the clasping mechanism suffers from wear and material fatigue leading to failure over time
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into separate functional components: locking tabs on the lid, corresponding locking holes on the body, and a rotating groove system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall reliability and reducing wear on any single part.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using flexible clasps that flex during operation, the invention uses rigid tabs that rotate into locked positions. The flexibility is transferred to the rotating groove mechanism rather than the locking elements themselves, reversing which components bear the mechanical stress.
2Reliability
If rigid locking tabs with defined apertures are used, then wear and material fatigue are reduced, but the operation mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The locking and sealing functions are merged into an integrated system where the locking tabs simultaneously engage both the locking holes for mechanical security and compress the sealing ring for airtightness. This combination simplifies the user experience while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating groove mechanism automatically guides the locking tabs into the correct engagement positions with the locking holes, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment by the user. The system self-adjusts during the rotation process to ensure proper engagement.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a rotational locking mechanism is implemented, then the service life is extended by reducing wear, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The wear-prone flexible clasp components are extracted from the locking mechanism and replaced with rigid tabs that engage through a rotational motion system. This extraction eliminates the material fatigue issue while the rotational groove provides the necessary movement guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism transitions from a linear flexing motion in a single dimension to a rotational motion in a different dimension. The locking tabs rotate within the rotating groove to engage the locking holes, utilizing angular movement instead of linear deformation to achieve locking.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotationally locking container includes a body and a lid, with a sealing structure provided between the body and the lid. A rotational locking structure is provided between said body and said lid. The rotational locking structure includes a downwardly recessed rotating groove provided on the lid, a knob disposed within the rotating groove, and at least two outwardly extending locking tabs provided on the knob. The mouth of the body is provided with a protruding edge extending upwardly beyond the lid, and said protruding edge is provided with at least two locking holes, wherein the locking tabs are configured to cooperate with the locking holes. Compared to existing containers on the market, the adoption of the rotational locking structure, wherein the cooperation between the locking tabs and the locking holes is less prone to wear, offers the advantages of simpler operation, more reliable locking, and a longer service life.