Beverage Can Closure Insert With Locking Reclosure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Beverage cans cannot be resealed after opening, leading to risks of spilling, contamination, and insect entry, and existing solutions fail to provide a cost-effective and reliable method for easy opening and resealing.

Innovation Solution

A beverage can closure element featuring a frame part with a cover element and locking device that can be easily locked and unlocked, using a clamped, adhesive, or injection-molded connection, with perforation lines for separation and a bearing device for secure actuation, allowing for easy reclosure and re-opening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional beverage can is opened, then the beverage can be accessed, but the can cannot be resealed leading to spillage and contamination risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresealing capabilityVSAvoidprevention of spillage and contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closure element is inserted into the opening of the beverage can, with the cover element nesting within the frame part. The closure element acts as a nested structure that fits into the can opening, providing a compact resealing solution that maintains reliability while enabling easy operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure element is divided into two main segments: the frame part and the cover element. These segments can be separately manufactured and connected through various methods (clamping, adhesive, or injection molding), allowing for cost-effective production while maintaining the reliability of the resealing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If a closure element with multiple connection methods is used, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing flexibilityVSAvoidconnection method complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides different connection methods (clamping, adhesive, injection molding) as alternative parameter options for manufacturing. This allows manufacturers to select the most appropriate method based on specific production requirements, maintaining ease of manufacture without necessarily increasing device complexity, as only one connection method is implemented per product.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a locking device is added to secure the cover element, then reliability of sealing is improved, but ease of operation for opening and closing is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing securityVSAvoidopening and closing operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing it to engage and disengage easily. The bearing device provides a pivot point that enables the cover element to rotate and lock into place during closing, and to be easily opened by applying force to overcome the locking mechanism. This dynamic design maintains sealing security while preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If the cover element is completely separated from the frame, then ease of manufacture is improved, but structural stability and sealing reliability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent separationVSAvoidsealing stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closure element is segmented into a frame part and a cover element that can be separately manufactured, improving ease of manufacture. However, these segments are connected through secure connection methods (clamping, adhesive, or injection molding) that maintain structural stability and sealing reliability when assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between the frame part and cover element may involve composite construction techniques, combining different materials and connection methods to achieve both ease of manufacture and reliable sealing. The composite approach allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2697126B1Beverage can closing member
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 WOLF LAB GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2697126B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2697126B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2697126B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The invention relates to a beverage can closing member (99) comprising a frame part (10) that has a frame (11) and is used to open a beverage can by pressing in a lid of the beverage can at a predetermined breaking line, further comprising a covering member (42) to be arranged in an opening of a beverage can, and a locking device (46) which is designed and/or arranged on the covering member (42) and is designed and/or arranged in such a way that the covering member (42) arranged in an opening of a beverage can can be locked in an opening of a beverage can, the covering member (42) being designed in a closure part (40) and/or insertion part which is accommodated in the frame (11) of the frame part (10).