Antimicrobial Bottle and Seal for Bacterial Contamination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bottled water often contains higher levels of bacteria than tap water due to insufficient protection from current seals, which can lead to bacterial contamination and spoilage of packaged liquids.
Innovation Solution
An antimicrobial bottle and seal incorporating an antimicrobial agent in the bottle's components, such as the body, cap, and seal, to inhibit bacterial motility and extend shelf life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional seals are used in bottles, then the structure remains simple and manufacturing cost is low, but bacterial contamination occurs and shelf life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates antimicrobial agents into the seal material composition, changing the chemical parameters of the seal to provide active protection against bacterial contamination. This transforms the seal from a passive barrier to an active antimicrobial barrier, resolving the contradiction by enhancing reliability through chemical modification rather than structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is constructed as a composite material combining base sealing material with antimicrobial agents. This composite structure maintains the simplicity of the single-piece seal design while integrating antimicrobial functionality, thus improving protection against bacterial contamination without increasing device complexity
2Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional seals are used in bottles, then manufacturing process remains simple, but shelf life of packaged liquid is reduced due to bacterial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The antimicrobial agent is incorporated into the seal material during the manufacturing process, performing the antimicrobial action in advance before the bottle is filled and sealed. This preliminary incorporation of protective function extends shelf life without requiring additional manufacturing steps or processes
Solution Approach 2:
By modifying the material composition parameters of the seal to include antimicrobial agents, the patent extends the functional duration of the seal's protective action. This chemical parameter change enables long-term antimicrobial protection throughout the shelf life of the packaged liquid while maintaining conventional manufacturing processes
3Object-affected harmful factors
If seals provide only physical barrier without antimicrobial properties, then material selection is simple and cost is low, but bacterial motility can penetrate the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of bacterial contact with the seal into a beneficial outcome by incorporating antimicrobial agents that actively kill or inhibit bacteria. Instead of the seal merely providing passive physical barrier that bacteria can penetrate, the antimicrobial properties transform the seal surface into an active defense that neutralizes bacterial threats
Solution Approach 2:
The seal material is formulated as a composite combining base polymer material with antimicrobial additives. This composite approach maintains the simplicity of material selection and processing while enhancing protection against bacterial penetration through the integrated antimicrobial functionality
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 antimicrobial bottle and seal significantly reduce bacterial contamination, extending the shelf life of beverages and preventing spoilage, thereby enhancing safety and reducing food poisoning risks.
Implementation Method 1
an antimicrobial agent is present in a component of the bottle selected from the group consisting of the body, the cap, the seal, the locking ring, and a combination thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A bottle having an antimicrobial property is provided. The bottle has one or more components including a body, a cap, a seal, and a locking ring. One or more of the components of the bottle are treated with an antimicrobial agent or comprise an antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial agent is a silver-based antimicrobial, a silver-glass antimicrobial, or other antimicrobial.