Spill-Resistant Container With Elastic Fabric Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spill-proof containers for dry items restrict access and storage capacity due to rigid flaps and materials that cause discomfort and obstruction, and fail to prevent spills when dropped, tipped, or shaken.
Innovation Solution
A spill-resistant container using elasticized synthetic fabric forming a flexible, self-closing opening with a placket between two annuli, allowing easy access and minimizing resistance during hand movement, made from materials like nylon Spandex, polyester Spandex, and DOW XLA™ fiber, with a detachable cover and coupling mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid plastic or rubber flaps are used to create a self-closing opening, then spill-proof quality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to hand obstruction and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid plastic or rubber flaps with thin, flexible fabric material that forms a self-closing opening. The fabric is suspended between two annuli and creates a placket that allows hand passage without obstruction. This flexible film approach maintains spill-proof functionality while eliminating the hardness and obstruction problems of rigid flaps, directly resolving the contradiction between spill-proof quality and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using rigid flaps that push vertically into the container, the invention uses an elastic fabric that deforms horizontally along the same plane as the fabric itself when a hand passes through. This inversion of the deformation direction eliminates the obstruction problem while maintaining the self-closing action, improving both spill-proof quality and hand access comfort.
2Reliability
If multiple flexible flaps are used to prevent spills, then spill-proof quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple flexible flaps into a single continuous elastic fabric material suspended between two annuli. This unified fabric structure eliminates the need for multiple separate flap components and their associated hinges or connections, reducing structural complexity while maintaining the self-closing spill-proof functionality through the fabric's elastic properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from rigid plastic or rubber to elasticized synthetic fabric, which fundamentally alters how the opening closure mechanism works. The fabric's elasticity provides the self-closing action without requiring complex mechanical structures, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining spill-proof quality.
3Strength
If plastic or rubber materials are used for flaps, then durability is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to hard edges causing abrasions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses elasticized synthetic fabric material that combines the durability needed for repeated use with the softness required for hand comfort. This fabric material eliminates the hard edges of plastic or rubber flaps that cause abrasions, while maintaining sufficient strength and durability through its elastic and resilient properties, directly resolving the contradiction between durability and harm reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
By using a thin flexible fabric instead of rigid plastic or rubber, the invention eliminates hard edges that cause hand abrasions. The fabric provides a smooth, soft surface that is safe for hand contact while maintaining durability through its elastic and resilient characteristics, resolving the contradiction between material strength and harm reduction.
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 container provides comfortable access and secure closure, preventing spills when the container is tipped, dropped, or shaken, while maintaining a smooth and soft surface for user comfort and maximizing storage capacity.
Implementation Method 1
the action of the elastic slit is such that as the hand passes through the opening, the elastic fabric is deformed horizontally, along the same plane as the fabric itself
Data Source
AI summary
A spill-resistant container having an open upper end that is maintained closed by a cover of flexible, elastic fabric, providing for quick, comfortable access to the containers contents. The cover is comprised of two overlapping pieces of elasticized fabric which may be easily pushed aside by a person's fingers reaching inside the container to access solid items therein. Once the person's hand is withdrawn from the opening, the two pieces of fabric snap shut, returning to their original overlapping positions and thereby closing the open end of the receptacle. Furthermore, the cover is detachably connected to the receptacle to permit cleaning and refilling of the receptacle.