Sealing Lid Structure to Reduce Oxygen Space in Canning Containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional canning container lids allow oxygen to enter the container, facilitating bacterial decomposition of food items due to the cylindrical space formed between the lid and the food surface, which reduces shelf life.

Innovation Solution

A lid element with an axially projecting portion that displaces food content, reducing the volume of oxygen and creating a vacuum seal to minimize exposure to air.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a traditional lid element is used with a cylindrical space formed between the lid and food surface, then the lid structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but oxygen is readily provided to bacteria facilitating decomposition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelid structure simplicityVSAvoidoxygen exposure to bacteria
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lid element incorporates an axially projecting portion that extends vertically into the container interior, creating a three-dimensional structure that displaces food contents and reduces the volume of oxygen space above the food surface, thereby limiting oxygen availability to bacteria while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the lid element is arranged substantially in parallel to the rim plane, then the sealing structure is simple, but a cylindrical space is formed that allows oxygen penetration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing structure simplicityVSAvoidprevention of bacterial decomposition
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lid element incorporates an axially projecting portion that extends vertically into the container interior, creating a three-dimensional structure that displaces food contents and reduces the volume of oxygen space above the food surface, thereby limiting oxygen availability to bacteria while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If an axially projecting portion is added to displace food contents, then oxygen exposure is reduced and shelf life is improved, but the lid structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelf life preservationVSAvoidlid element structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lid element is divided into distinct functional segments: a peripheral portion for sealing engagement with the container rim and a central axially projecting portion for displacing food contents. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall design relatively simple and manufacturable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12565359B2Sealing lid
Publication Date: 2026.03.03 ROSENBERG JONAH ARI
  • US12565359B2 patent drawing
  • US12565359B2 patent drawing
  • US12565359B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A lid element for use with a container having a rim includes a centrally disposed axially projecting portion, an annular peripheral portion disposed radially outwardly of the axially projecting portion, and an annular sealing element disposed on the peripheral portion and configured to engage the rim of the container. When the sealing element engages the rim of the container, the axially projecting portion projects axially from the peripheral portion beyond the rim of the container with respect to an interior axial direction of the lid element to aid in displacing a food item stored as or in a liquid within the interior of the container.