Resealable Beverage Closure Membrane for Easy Opening and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional resealable closures for beverage containers face challenges in achieving uniform manufacturing tolerances and mechanical strength, particularly in ensuring easy operation without leakage or deformation, while being resistant to mouth action and choking hazards, which complicates the design and manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
A closure design featuring an axially actuatable inner portion with a sealing member, an outer portion connected by an annular membrane with a structurally weakened region, providing a lower returning force to improve responsiveness to pressure differences and maintain mechanical integrity, allowing for easier operation and air venting while ensuring a secure seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the membrane is made thin or with long extent to provide flexibility for valve operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the mechanical strength and resistance to biting or chewing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is designed with a structurally weakened annular region that has different properties from the rest of the membrane. This weakened region provides the necessary flexibility and lower returning force for easy operation, while the rest of the membrane maintains sufficient mechanical strength to resist biting or chewing forces.
2Ease of operation
If the returning force is reduced to improve responsiveness and ease of opening, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The returning force of the membrane is carefully controlled by modifying the annular region's structure to provide a lower returning force that enables easy opening while still maintaining sufficient sealing capability to prevent leakage when the valve is closed.
3Ease of operation
If the annular membrane is loosely connected to provide freedom of movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision and uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The annular membrane features a localized structurally weakened region that provides the necessary freedom of movement for easy operation, while the rest of the membrane structure maintains consistent manufacturing properties and uniformity across production batches.
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 closure design enhances the drinking experience by reducing the force required to open the valve, allowing controlled air return and maintaining a high tolerance to mechanical stress, thus addressing the challenges of uniformity and strength in manufacturing and user safety.
Implementation Method 1
The elasticity of the membrane ensures that the valve returns to its pressure-sealing position when an under-pressure supplied during drinking ceases
Implementation Method 2
a structurally weakened annular region provided on one of: the annular membrane on or adjacent to the upper edge of the outer portion, on or adjacent to the lower edge of the inner portion
Implementation Method 3
said inner portion having a sealing member for restricting a fluid flow through a centre of the closure with the inner portion in a first position
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a closure for a container, for example a beverage container, embodiments of which encompass a closure (100) for a container, comprising: an outer portion (109) connectable to an opening of the container; an axially actuatable inner portion (107) having a sealing member (704) for restricting fluid flow through the closure (100) with the inner portion (107) in a first position and allowing fluid flow through the closure (100) with the inner portion (107) in a second position axially displaced relative to the outer portion (109); a nd an annular membrane (110) connecting the outer and inner portions (109, 107) and configured to provide a returning force to resiliently bias the inner portion (107) towards the first position. The application also includes a beverage container comprising a closure and a method of operating a closure.