Spill-Proof Lid with Tension-Web Sealing for Universal Vessel Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spill-proof lids require precise alignment with the user's mouth and often necessitate mechanical connections like threading, failing to adapt to vessels with dimensional variations and lacking ease of cleaning and reuse.
Innovation Solution
A reusable, spill-proof lid with a cap member and sealing member that moves from a seated to an unseated position via a user-applied force, utilizing a tension web for sealing, which stretches to create a gap for drinking without mechanical connections, accommodating various vessel dimensions and materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional spill-proof lid with mechanical connections (threads) is used, then the lid can be securely attached to the vessel, but the lid cannot adapt to vessels with dimensional variations and requires precise alignment with the user's mouth
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed with a universal fit mechanism that allows it to adapt to various vessel dimensions without requiring precise alignment or mechanical connections. The sealing member can deform to accommodate different opening sizes, making the lid compatible with multiple vessel types while eliminating the need for threaded attachments.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member is made from a material that can change its physical parameters (shape, size) in response to applied forces. When the user presses their mouth against the lid, the sealing member deforms to create an opening, allowing the lid to adapt dynamically to different usage conditions without mechanical adjustments.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional spill-proof lid requires precise alignment with the user's mouth, then the seal can be maintained, but the ease of operation is reduced as the user must position their mouth at a specific location
Solution Approach 1:
The lid transitions from a static sealed state to a dynamic opened state when force is applied. The sealing member is designed to remain sealed under normal conditions but dynamically opens when the user presses their mouth against any point on the lid, allowing easy operation while maintaining seal integrity through its responsive design.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid automatically opens and closes in response to user interaction without requiring manual manipulation. When the user presses their mouth against the lid, the sealing member self-opens to allow drinking, then automatically reseals when the user removes their mouth, eliminating the need for buttons, flaps, or complex mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If a reusable lid with minimal structural components is used, then ease of cleaning is improved, but the reliability of the seal may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into functionally distinct components: a cap member for structural support and a separate sealing member for creating the seal. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining ease of cleaning, as the simple geometry of both parts facilitates washing and drying without complex structures to trap moisture.
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 lid effectively seals vessels with dimensional variations, allows drinking at any point along the rim, and facilitates easy cleaning and reuse by minimizing structural components.
Implementation Method 1
The tension web is composed of a material that facilitates stretching and/or flexing when a force is applied thereto. When the cap member and the sealing member are connected together, the support member of the cap member is to directly contact the central web surface, thereby causing the tension web to stretch or flex. The tension web resists back against the support member in response, which causes a sealing of the cap member against the sealing member
Data Source
AI summary
A reusable, spill-proof lid for a drinking vessel. The lid has a cap member that is selectively moveable between a seated position to form an inner seal, and an unseated position that forms a gap that facilitates drinking of liquid contents from the drinking vessel. The lid is particularly moveable from the seated position to the unseated position via a downwardly directed force applied by the upper lip of a user.