Spring Shock Lid Stay Design for Storage Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lid stays for storage containers are costly to manufacture and assemble due to complex components, and they often require close tolerance housing and O-rings, increasing production costs and assembly complexity.
Innovation Solution
A simplified spring shock lid stay device with a cylindrical housing, coupler, and base that uses a coil spring for counterbalance and resistance, featuring a cap to seal the spring and prevent overextension, allowing for easy assembly and operation with minimal components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lid stay components (O-rings, close tolerance housing, grooves) are used, then frictional forces and pneumatic resistance are provided, but manufacturing costs and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the O-rings and complex housing grooves from the design, extracting the friction-generating components that caused manufacturing complexity. Instead, it uses a simplified spring mechanism within a basic cylindrical housing that provides the necessary resistance without requiring precision-machined features or separate sealing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, precision-manufactured components (O-rings, close-tolerance housing) with simpler, more economical parts. The spring mechanism uses standard coil spring elements and basic housing features that are cheaper to manufacture and assemble, sacrificing the complex friction-based resistance system for a more cost-effective solution.
2Reliability
If multiple components are used in lid stay, then frictional forces and pneumatic resistance are achieved, but assembly time and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated spring mechanism. The coil spring provides both the counterbalance force for opening assistance and the compression resistance for controlled closing, eliminating the need for separate O-rings, pistons, and complex housing features. This merging of functions reduces the total component count and simplifies the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism serves multiple purposes: it provides the counterbalance force to assist lid opening, delivers controlled resistance during closing, and eliminates the need for separate sealing and friction-generating components. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity while maintaining the necessary performance characteristics.
3Ease of manufacture
If spring shock lid stay is simplified, then manufacturing cost and assembly complexity are reduced, but resistance control during closing may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the resistance characteristics by adjusting spring parameters (coil density, wire diameter, free length) rather than relying on complex mechanical features. By changing the physical parameters of the spring itself, the design achieves reliable resistance control during lid closing while maintaining a simple, easy-to-assemble structure without O-rings or precision grooves.
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 solution provides a low-cost, easy-to-assemble lid stay that assists in opening and provides controlled resistance during closing, ensuring smooth operation with reduced manufacturing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
A spring positioned within a housing to engage a piston... The spring provides compression resistance when closing the lid, providing a spring shock
Implementation Method 2
A cap is secured to the insert end, sealing the spring within the interior chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A lid stay formed from a housing slidably coupled to a base. The housing has a coupler section for securing said housing to a fixed object, and a connector section for securing the housing to the base. The base is formed from a cylindrical shaped tube defining an interior chamber, having an insertion section constructed and arranged to slidably receive said housing, but prevent the connector section of the housing from passing therethrough. An expanded coil spring is positioned within the interior chamber to maintain the housing and base in an expanded position. The lid stay is for use with a storage container base having a lid pivotally attached thereto. The lid stay biases the lid in an open position and provides resistance when closing the lid.