Anti-drip Cap With Elastic Return For Deformable Bottles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional anti-drip caps for deformable bottles face issues with product leakage and drying due to the need for manual handling and the risk of knocking over, leading to unintended product flow when in the high dispensing position.

Innovation Solution

The anti-drip cap features a venting mechanism with a frustoconical counterbore and radially oriented counterbore, along with an elastic return means, allowing the cap to automatically adjust between locking, dispensing, and venting configurations, ensuring sealed passage and preventing leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cap is designed with a high dispensing position to allow product flow, then product dispensing is improved, but the risk of knocking over and unintended product flow increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct dispensingVSAvoidrisk of knocking over
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is designed to be movable between multiple positions (locked, dispensing, venting) rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adapt to different operational states. The mobile cover can rotate and shift axially to transition between these positions, enabling the system to respond to usage conditions while maintaining stability in each state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cap incorporates an elastic return means that automatically returns the cap to its initial locked position after dispensing, eliminating the need for manual handling. The system serves itself by using the elastic mechanism to restore the cap to its safe default state, preventing unintended product flow without requiring user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the cap remains in the high dispensing position, then product dispensing is facilitated, but manual handling is required which leads to drying and blocking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct dispensingVSAvoidmanual handling time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic return means automatically returns the cap to its locked position after dispensing, eliminating the need for manual handling. The system serves itself by using the elastic mechanism to restore the cap to its safe default state, preventing unintended product flow without requiring user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cap maintains continuous product sealing through the closure element that remains in contact with the outlet orifice during the locked and venting positions. This continuous sealing action prevents product drying and blocking while allowing intermittent dispensing, eliminating the need for manual repositioning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the cap is designed with reduced play between cap and base for locking, then closing position stability is improved, but venting capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosing position stabilityVSAvoidventing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is designed to be movable between multiple positions (locked, dispensing, venting) rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adapt to different operational states. The mobile cover can rotate and shift axially to transition between these positions, enabling the system to respond to usage conditions while maintaining stability in each state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cap is divided into functional segments: a mobile cover for positioning, a closure element for sealing, and a venting means for air flow. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling stable locking when needed while providing dedicated venting capability through the separate venting means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design prevents product leakage and drying by allowing controlled dispensing and venting, maintaining product integrity and convenience without manual handling, while ensuring the bottle can resume its shape after pressure release.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic return means (40), integral with the base (16), to allow the passage of the stopper (10) from its third to its second configuration, the cap (26) rising towards its high dispensing position when an injection of product from the bottle (12) exerts on the upper wall (28) of the passage chamber (32) sufficient pressure for the resulting force to overcome the force of said elastic return means (40), and the automatic return of the cap (26) from its third to its second configuration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2758318B1Anti-drip cap with an elastically returned mobile cover, and having two angular positions
Publication Date: 2017.12.06 MAITRISE & INNOVATION
  • EP2758318B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2758318B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2758318B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention proposes a cap (10) referred to as an "anti-drip" cap for a deformable bottle (12) comprising a base (16), communicating with the bottle, covered by a cover (26), comprising an outlet (30), said cap (10) being moveable between a configuration for closing and locking corresponding to a first angular position and a low vertical position of the cover (26), an intermediate configuration of the cap (10) for venting via a leakage means (38) corresponding to a second angular position and the low vertical position of the cover (26), and a dispensing configuration of the cap (10) corresponding to the second angular position and a high vertical position of the cover (26) in which the outlet (30) is released, the cap (10) passing from the intermediate configuration to the dispensing configuration when the cover (26) is moved by the pressure from a product supplied to the base (16), and returning to the intermediate configuration when the cover (26) is returned under the effect of an elastic return means inserted between the cover (26) and the base (16).