Segmented Seal Cover With Tear Lines For Controlled Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for sealing and unsealing openings lack flexibility and user-friendly mechanisms for controlled access, particularly in containers and game applications, where selective removal of seal portions is desirable but not efficiently addressed.
Innovation Solution
A seal or cover layer with tear lines and pull-tabs that can be adhered to container openings, allowing for selective removal of sections to provide a spillage barrier or airtight seal, facilitating controlled access by dividing the seal into removable regions with designated tearing directions and ventilation holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complete seal covers the entire opening, then sealing reliability is improved, but accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate because the user cannot access contents without removing the entire seal
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple separate portions (first seal portion and second seal portion) that can be independently removed. Each portion covers a different section of the opening, allowing selective removal to provide access while maintaining sealing on remaining portions. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling partial access without compromising overall sealing integrity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the seal is made as a single integrated piece, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but flexibility and adaptability deteriorate because selective removal of specific portions is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The seal comprises multiple separate seal portions that can be manufactured independently and then applied to different sections of the opening. This segmentation provides manufacturing flexibility while enabling selective removal of specific portions based on user needs, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal portions are designed to be removable and replaceable, transforming a static seal into a dynamic system where portions can be selectively added or removed. This dynamic design allows the seal to adapt to different access requirements while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process for each individual portion.
3Ease of operation
If tear lines are added to enable selective removal, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional structural elements
Solution Approach 1:
Tear lines are pre-formed in the seal portions during manufacturing, enabling users to easily separate the seal portions from each other or from the backing material. This preliminary preparation of separation lines significantly reduces the effort required for selective removal while adding minimal structural complexity, as the tear lines can be incorporated into the existing seal material structure.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1G
Figure 1H~1L
Figure 1L-1~1L-2
AI summary
Apparatus (S) for sealing an opening to a compartment, including: an opening to a compartment defined by at least one edge; a seal layer (10) sized and configured to cover said opening, said seal layer effectively adhered to at least substantially all of the edge of said opening, said seal layer having a plurality of tear lines (12, 14) defining a plurality of portions (22, 24, 26) of the seal layer positioned over the opening of the compartment, the tear lines positioned and formed for selective tearing to permit selective removal of at least two of the plurality of portions of the seal layer from the opening by pulling on a gripping tab portion (16, 18, 20) connected to at least one of the plurality of portions of the seal layer to remove a related portion of the seal layer, and at least one additional layer of material provided in a generally parallel and confronting relationship with the seal layer over substantially most of the opening, said additional material configured to separate along a line in a location of the additional material that does not have a tear line, said line at least generally corresponding to one of the plurality of tear lines of the seal layer when said one of the plurality of tear lines is selectively torn.