Tangent Hinge Asymmetry for Seamless Container Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional plastic containers lack a seamless closure mechanism that prevents injury and ensures secure sealing, particularly for perishable foods, leading to potential exposure to atmosphere and environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

A plastic container design featuring a hinge with a pivot line tangent to the flange of one portion, where the flange of the second portion extends further than the first portion, creating a seamless periphery when closed, and can be formed using techniques like laser scoring or ultrasonic means, allowing for various configurations and materials such as polyethylene terephthalate or polypropylene.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional plastic containers are used to house perishable foods, then the containers are inexpensive and easy to produce, but they lack a seamless closure mechanism that may expose contents to atmosphere and potential injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure securityVSAvoidexposure to atmosphere

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into a body portion and a lid portion that can be separately formed and then joined together through the hinge mechanism, allowing each portion to be optimized independently while ensuring a secure closure when assembled

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge mechanism provides dynamic movement between the body portion and lid portion, allowing the container to transition between open and closed states while maintaining a seamless perimeter in the closed position to prevent exposure to atmosphere

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a hinge mechanism is added to create a seamless closure, then consumer safety and sealing are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjury preventionVSAvoidhinge structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge mechanism merges the body portion and lid portion into a single integrated structure that moves as one unit, creating a seamless perimeter when closed while preventing injury through the integrated design that eliminates gaps between portions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge mechanism is positioned asymmetrically with the pivot line tangent to the flange of the body portion, allowing the lid flange to extend further and create an overlapping seamless perimeter that prevents injury while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Shape

If the flange of the second portion extends further than the first portion, then a seamless periphery is created, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseamless peripheryVSAvoidflange alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge mechanism is pre-formed during the thermoforming process with the pivot line positioned tangent to the body portion flange, and the lid portion flange is pre-configured to extend further, ensuring proper alignment and seamless periphery formation when the portions are assembled

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flange of the lid portion is designed with locally different dimensions, extending further than the body portion flange at specific locations to create the seamless periphery overlap, while other portions of the flanges maintain standard dimensions for structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 design provides a secure, seamless closure that prevents exposure to the atmosphere and enhances consumer safety by ensuring a smooth, uninterrupted perimeter, suitable for perishable foods and various container shapes and materials.

Implementation Method 1

a hinge joining the peripheral flange of the first portion to peripheral flange of the second portion. The hinge has a pivot line tangent the flange of the first portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHinge rotation: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

The pivot line can be formed, for example, via a laser (e.g., a numerically controlled laser)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Implementation Method 3

The pivot line can be formed, for example, via ultrasonic means

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS10457449B2Container hinge

Publication Date: 2019.10.29 INLINE PLASTICS CORP

AI summary

A plastic container includes a first portion including an outwardly extending peripheral flange and a second portion including an outwardly extending peripheral flange. The first portion and the second portion define a container volume. The plastic container also includes a hinge joining the peripheral flange of the first portion and the peripheral flange of the second portion. The hinge includes a pivot line and two arcuate segments proximate to respective ends of the pivot line. The pivot line is tangent the peripheral flange of the first portion and tangent to at least a portion of each arcuate segment. The flange of the first portion can extend further than the flange of the second portion proximate each end of the pivot line to create a seamless periphery about the hinge relative to a periphery of the first portion when the container is closed.