Soft-sided Insulated Container Rigid Closure Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Soft-sided insulated containers often have inadequate sealing mechanisms, leading to potential spills when the container is tipped over, and they rely on zippers which may not provide a tight enough seal.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a soft-sided insulated container with a rigid closure system that utilizes a passive friction fit and an active closure mechanism, such as a latch or clamp, to create a secure and watertight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a soft-sided closure with zipper is used, then the container is easy to manufacture and operate, but the sealing effectiveness is insufficient leading to potential spills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines soft-sided exterior panels with a rigid internal liner that has an integrated rigid closure. This composite structure allows the outer soft material to maintain flexibility and ease of manufacture, while the rigid liner provides the structural integrity and sealing effectiveness needed to prevent spills when the container is tipped.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure system is segmented into two functional parts: the soft-sided exterior structure that provides flexibility and the rigid internal liner with rigid closure that provides sealing. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its own properties without compromising the other.
2Reliability
If a rigid closure system is introduced, then the sealing effectiveness improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid closure is merged with the rigid internal liner as an integrated unit. The lid and body portions of the rigid liner form a unified structure that simplifies the overall closure mechanism while maintaining effective sealing through the rigid-friction-fit interface.
3Reliability
If a rigid internal liner with releasable securement is used, then the container provides better spill protection, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The releasable securement mechanism is designed to automatically engage when the rigid liner is inserted into the soft-sided container, providing self-service securement without requiring manual intervention. The securement can be easily released when needed, balancing automatic engagement with simple operation.
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
This solution enhances the container's ability to maintain the temperature of contents by providing a tighter seal, reducing the risk of spills, and potentially eliminating the need for a main peripheral zipper.
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 rigid closure has a second closure interface that is an active closure... In a feature, 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 container has a vent. The latch operates to close the vent. 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.