Soft-sided Insulated Container Rigid Closure System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Soft-sided insulated containers lack an effective seal to prevent spills when inverted, as their main closure relies on a zipper that may not provide a tight enough seal, especially when made of flexible materials.
Innovation Solution
A soft-sided insulated container with a rigid closure system featuring a passive friction fit and an active closure mechanism, including a mechanical latch or clamp, to create a secure and water-tight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a zipper closure is used in soft-sided insulated containers, then the container is easy to manufacture and operate, but the seal effectiveness deteriorates when the container is inverted
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is divided into two distinct interfaces: a first closure interface using a zipper for ease of operation, and a second closure interface using a rigid seal mechanism for spill prevention. This segmentation allows each interface to specialize in its strength, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and seal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure system combines flexible materials (for the zipper and soft-sided container) with rigid materials (for the seal interface). This composite approach allows the container to maintain flexibility and ease of operation while incorporating a rigid sealing mechanism that prevents spills when inverted.
2Reliability
If stiffer materials are used to achieve a tighter seal, then the seal effectiveness improves, but the container flexibility and soft-sided nature deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into a soft-sided exterior and a rigid internal liner with the closure mechanism. This allows the exterior to remain flexible and adaptable, while the internal liner provides the rigid sealing surface needed for spill prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Rigidity is applied locally only at the closure interface where seal effectiveness is needed, while the rest of the container remains soft and flexible. This local quality approach resolves the contradiction by providing stiffness only where necessary for the seal.
3Reliability
If a rigid closure system is implemented, then the seal effectiveness improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid closure system is designed to be self-latching or self-sealing, reducing the need for complex mechanical components. The closure mechanism automatically maintains the seal without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems.
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 rigid closure system enhances the container's ability to maintain a tight seal, reducing the risk of spills and allowing for easier access while maintaining thermal insulation.
Implementation Method 1
The rigid closure has a first closure interface that is a passive friction fit in which one part wipes another
Implementation Method 2
The second closure interface is a seal
Data Source
AI summary
A soft-sided insulated container that has a rigid closure. The rigid closure has a first closure interface that is a passive friction fit in which one part wipes another. The rigid closure has a second closure interface that is an active closure in which a mechanical device, such as a latch or clamp, is used positively to energize a closure between different parts of the closure. The soft-sided insulated container has a soft-sided external casing, and a rigid internal liner that includes a mating rigid lid. There is a releasable securement that holds the liner in engagement with the casing, but that can be released to permit the casing to be extracted from the liner. The releasable securement is a one-way passively engageable securement.