Sealable Container Color-Coded Matching Bands

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealable containers face challenges in matching compatible bases and lids, leading to inefficient storage and display, as well as issues with maintaining a strong seal and reduced pressure, which affects the storage life of contents.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of color-coded bands on both the container base and lid allows for easy identification and association of matching components, enhancing the sealing effect and enabling the containers to stack tightly, thus maximizing storage and display space while maintaining reduced pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If container bases and lids are stored separately in kitchen drawers, then storage flexibility is improved, but matching compatible bases and lids becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage flexibilityVSAvoidtime to match base and lid

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color-coded bands on both container bases and lids to create a visual matching system. Users can quickly identify compatible pairs by matching colors, eliminating the time-consuming process of trying different combinations while maintaining the ability to store bases and lids separately for flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Ease of operation

If container bases and lids are stored connected together, then matching is simplified, but storage space efficiency decreases and condensation problems arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of matchingVSAvoidstorage space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing color-coded identification, the patent enables users to store bases and lids separately (saving space and preventing condensation) while still making matching simple and intuitive through visual color cues, thus resolving both aspects of the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Reliability

If the sealing means is made highly resilient to maintain strong seal, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the sealing force required to open the container increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidforce to open container

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sealing function into two distinct components: a resilient sealing means for maintaining the seal, and a separate release mechanism (such as a tab or lever system) for opening. This allows the seal to remain strong while providing an easy way to overcome the sealing force when opening is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanical advantage system between the user's opening action and the sealing force. This could include lever arms, cam mechanisms, or tab systems that amplify small user forces into sufficient force to overcome the resilient seal, making opening easy while maintaining strong sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10479569B2Sealable containers

Publication Date: 2019.11.19 THE DECOR

AI summary

A container for storage is provided which includes, as principle components, a base member (1) and a lid (100) therefor, with the lid (100) in use overlaying said base member (1) in a sealing relationship, with both the base member (1) and lid (100) having associated therewith a strip or base (5.104) of a color different to the remainder of the base member (1) and lid (100) respectively, the strip or band (5) of the base member (1) being of the same color as the strip of band (104) of the lid (100), thereby to allow for ready matching of the lid (100) with container base (1).