Self-Sealing Container Lid with Flexible Flange for Improved Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional self-sealing drinking containers have low fluid flow rates due to rigid flow rings that hinder proper deformation of soft covers, and they often accumulate dirt and mold, posing health risks to users like toddlers and disabled individuals.
Innovation Solution
A lid design for a container that includes a flange with a disc-shaped body allowing fluid flow, a cap with a conical configuration, and a reinforcing ring to create a pushing force, all made from silicon with a specific shore hardness, which allows for easy attachment and deformation to facilitate fluid exit without the need for a rigid collar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rigid flow rings are used to keep the soft cover in place, then the cover is held securely, but the soft cover cannot deform properly, resulting in low fluid flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces rigid flow rings with a flexible membrane that can deform under user pressure. The membrane is secured to the container wall and can be pushed inward by the user's lips or tongue to open the valve, allowing fluid to flow. This flexible structure eliminates the constraint imposed by rigid flow rings while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the sealing structure from rigid to flexible. The membrane material is selected to have appropriate elasticity and deformability, allowing it to transition from a sealed state to an open state under applied pressure, thereby controlling fluid flow dynamically.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid collar with flow rings is used, then the soft cover is held in place, but dirt and mold accumulate in the collar structure, posing health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the rigid collar and flow rings from the design, extracting the problematic structure that trapped dirt and mold. The membrane is attached directly to the container wall without intermediate rigid components, eliminating crevices where contamination could accumulate.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane creates a smooth, continuous surface without the rigid collar's crevices and joints. This smooth surface prevents dirt and mold accumulation while maintaining effective cover retention through the membrane's attachment to the container wall.
3Ease of operation
If conventional self-sealing containers are designed with rigid collars, then structural stability is improved, but the containers require actuation that is difficult for toddlers and disabled individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane valve can be opened by simple pressure from the user's lips or tongue, requiring minimal force and no complex actuation mechanism. This makes the container easily operable by toddlers and disabled individuals while the membrane remains securely attached to maintain structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane valve is designed to respond automatically to user pressure without requiring separate actuation steps. The user's natural drinking action (suction or pressure) directly opens the valve, and the valve self-seals when the user stops drinking, eliminating the need for manual opening/closing actions.
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
The design enhances fluid flow rates and eliminates the accumulation of dirt and mold, providing a safer and more efficient drinking experience for users who may have difficulty actuating traditional self-sealing containers.
Implementation Method 1
the body of the flange is adapted to permit fluid flow through the flange to exit the container between the first and second rim
Implementation Method 2
the flange is adapted to generate a friction force to resist movement between the lid and the container
Implementation Method 3
the reinforcing ring defines an area surrounded by the reinforcing ring, the area is adapted to be compressed creating a pushing force from the flange into the inner surface of the container
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a lid for releasable attachment to a container for containment of fluid, the container having an opening defined by a first rim, the lid comprising a body having a second rim adapted for abutment onto the first rim, and a flange comprising a body having an outer periphery for abutment to an inner surface of the container, wherein the body of the flange is adapted to permit fluid flow through the flange to exit the container between the first and second rim. There is also provided an abutment assembly of the container being adapted to receive the second rim of the lid for selectively displacing at least one portion of the second rim of the lid to allow fluid to exit the container. In an arrangement, the abutment assembly may be of the second rim.