Container Stopper With Adhesive-Free Mechanical Overcap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing closures for bottles using adhesives to connect the cylindrical cap and overcap suffer from unpleasant odors that hinder the perception of the beverage's fragrance and lack a stable, adhesive-free connection.

Innovation Solution

A closure design featuring a cylindrical element with a first and second portion rigidly joined, and an overcap composed of two fixed bodies with snap engagement, interference fit, or screw connection, ensuring a stable and adhesive-free connection through mechanical means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesives are used to connect the cylindrical element and overcap, then connection stability is improved, but unpleasant odors are generated that hinder fragrance perception

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidunpleasant odors
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the adhesive substance from the connection system entirely, extracting the harmful element while maintaining the connection function through alternative mechanical means including friction fit, geometric interlocking, and snap-fit mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (adhesives) with a mechanical connection system involving friction fit between the cylindrical element and overcap, geometric interlocking features, and snap-fit mechanisms that provide stable connection without chemical substances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If mechanical connection means are used instead of adhesives, then fragrance integrity is improved, but connection stability and resistance to stresses deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefragrance integrityVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs curved and rounded geometric features in the connection interface between the cylindrical element and overcap, creating friction-based mechanical engagement that provides stable connection while maintaining fragrance integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces geometric interlocking features and snap-fit mechanisms that engage in multiple dimensions, providing resistance to axial stresses and torque through three-dimensional mechanical engagement rather than simple linear connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the overcap is made thick for adequate manual grip, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual gripVSAvoidovercap structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the overcap to serve multiple functions simultaneously: providing manual grip through adequate thickness, facilitating removal through lever action, and enabling reapplication through geometric features, thereby reducing overall device complexity through functional integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3612459B1Stopper with overcap for containers
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 GUALA CLOSURES SPA
  • EP3612459B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3612459B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4a
  • EP3612459B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A closure comprises a cylindrical element (1, 101) having a first portion (2, 102) and a second portion (3, 103), the latter being adapted to engage, as a removable stopper, in a portion of a neck (5) of a container, an overcap (8, 108) attached to the cylindrical element (1, 101), comprising a first body (9, 109, 209) and a second body (15, 115, 215), attached together and defining a seat (19, 219). The cylindrical element (1, 101) is partially disposed in the seat (19, 219) to be locked within the seat (19, 219).