Biodegradable Stopper With Mechanical Interlock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stoppers used in perfumery, despite their decorative appeal, rely on non-biodegradable adhesives for attachment, making them difficult to recycle and not environmentally friendly, while materials like wood and cork face challenges due to expansion issues and micrometric adjustments needed for a secure fit.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable stopper design featuring a rigid casing made of materials like wood and an elastic internal ring of cork, where the ring fits into recesses within the casing, eliminating the need for adhesives and ensuring a secure fit around the bottle neck without deformation, using projections and grooves for enhanced attachment and air passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If non-biodegradable adhesives are used to attach cork to wooden casing, then the attachment force is sufficient, but the stopper becomes difficult to recycle and not environmentally friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive layer entirely from the stopper structure. Instead of using chemical bonds to attach the cork ring to the wooden casing, the design uses purely mechanical interference fit through precisely shaped recesses and protrusions, eliminating the harmful non-biodegradable adhesive substance while maintaining attachment force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mechanical intermediary system consisting of complementary geometric shapes (recesses in the casing and protrusions on the cork ring) that mediate the attachment between components. This mechanical intermediary replaces the chemical intermediary (adhesive) and enables strong attachment through physical interlocking rather than chemical bonding.
2Strength
If wood is used for the stopper casing, then the structure provides stiffness, but the material undergoes expansions that compromise the fit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the stopper into two distinct functional segments: a rigid wooden casing that provides structural stability and stiffness, and an elastic cork ring that provides dimensional adaptability. By segmenting the stopper this way, each material can fulfill its optimal function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cork ring by making it elastic and compressible, allowing it to accommodate dimensional changes in the wooden casing due to expansion. The cork ring's ability to deform and return to its original shape compensates for the wood's expansion, maintaining a secure fit throughout.
3Manufacturing precision
If plastic is used for the annular component, then micrometric adjustment is achieved for secure fit, but the material cannot be biodegradable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from synthetic plastic to natural elastic cork. This material substitution maintains the necessary micrometric adjustment capability through the cork's elastic properties and compressibility, while achieving biodegradability. The cork ring's natural elasticity provides the same precision adjustment function as plastic but with environmental compatibility.
4Strength
If adhesives are used to attach components, then the attachment is secure, but the stopper structure becomes more complex and harder to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the adhesive layer from the stopper structure, simplifying the design to purely mechanical components. This elimination of the adhesive layer reduces structural complexity while maintaining attachment security through the interference fit mechanism of complementary geometric shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a self-assembling mechanism where the cork ring and wooden casing are designed with complementary geometric features that automatically align and secure each other during assembly. The protrusions and recesses guide the components into their final positions and maintain attachment without requiring external adhesives or complex assembly procedures.
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 solution provides a biodegradable, economically viable, and robust stopper that is easy to recycle, suitable for decorative applications, with improved attachment force and ease of use, while maintaining a stylish appearance and ensuring the stopper withstands expansion stresses.
Implementation Method 1
an internal ring (2) of biodegradable elastic material... the ring fits into recesses within the casing... the elastic internal component suitable to be fixed around the neck of a bottle or flask
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a biodegradable stopper comprising a casing of rigid biodegradable material, consisting of an annular body with a covered flank, and an internal ring of biodegradable elastic material the total width of which is equal to or smaller than the internal width of the annular body, comprising one or more internal recesses in which one or more portions of the ring fit.