Application Ball Seal Structure for Stable Container Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The sealability of application containers is unstable due to the 'setting' phenomenon, where the inner annular seal part is plastically deformed with repeated cap attachment and detachment, leading to potential leakage and compromised sealing when the cap is not sufficiently tightened or mounted through undercut fitting for aesthetic or operational reasons.
Innovation Solution
An application container design featuring a holding cylinder section with a soft seal part made of elastomer or rubber, which is elastically deformable, and a cap that pushes the application ball into the soft seal part, ensuring stable sealing by blocking communication ports, even with undercut fitting, and integrating the holding cylinder and soft seal part for simplified manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap is screwed onto the mouth part by a greater amount to secure sealability, then sealability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the seal part from hard to soft (elastomeric material), which allows the seal to deform elastically and maintain contact pressure without requiring excessive screwing force or rotation, thus resolving the contradiction between sealability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a soft seal part made of elastomeric material that can flex and deform to maintain sealing contact, eliminating the need for tight mechanical fastening and improving both sealability and ease of operation
2Ease of operation
If the cap is mounted on the mouth part through undercut fitting for clean appearance, then ease of operation is improved, but sealability deteriorates due to setting phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the seal part to soft elastomeric material that exhibits elastic deformation rather than plastic deformation, which eliminates the setting phenomenon and maintains sealability even with undercut fitting that prioritizes ease of operation and appearance
Solution Approach 2:
The soft seal part is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily replaced if worn, allowing the use of simple undercut fitting without compromising long-term sealability
3Device complexity
If the inner annular seal part is made of hard material, then device complexity is reduced, but sealability deteriorates due to plastic deformation and setting phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from hard to soft elastomeric material, which fundamentally alters the deformation behavior from plastic to elastic, thereby maintaining sealability while actually simplifying the structure by eliminating the need for complex pre-compression or adjustment mechanisms
4Ease of operation
If the cap is not screwed on by a sufficiently greater amount, then ease of operation is improved, but sealability deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the seal part to soft elastomeric material that maintains elastic deformation characteristics, allowing the seal to recover its shape and maintain contact pressure even with minimal screwing, thus preserving sealability over time while improving ease of operation
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 maintains stable sealability over time by reducing plastic deformation of the soft seal part, allowing for clean appearance and enhanced operability while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a soft seal part held by the holding cylinder main body, formed of a material softer than the holding cylinder main body, and configured to come into contact with the application ball from below, the soft seal part has an annular shape extending around a center axis of the holding cylinder main body and is elastically deformable
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An application container (10) includes a container main body (1), an inner plug (2), and a cap (3) detachably mounted on a container body (11), the inner plug (2) includes a holding cylinder section (6), and an application ball (7), the holding cylinder section (6) has a holding cylinder main body (8), and a soft seal part (9), the soft seal part (9) has an annular shape extending around a center axis (O) and is elastically deformable, and the application ball (7) is pushed downward by the cap (3) and pushed into the soft seal part (9) as the cap (3) is mounted on the container body (11).