Bottle-Closing Device Covering Case Integrity Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bottle-closing devices do not effectively indicate whether a bottle has been opened after its original packaging, making it difficult for consumers to verify the integrity of the contents.
Innovation Solution
A bottle-closing device featuring a covering case with a second top portion that moves from a fully covering to a partially covering position after the first opening, utilizing constraining means such as protruding portions and receiving seats to ensure the cap remains integral with the diffusing group, indicating the bottle's opening status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a conventional cap and dispenser assembly is used, then the bottle can be closed and sealed, but there is no clear indication of whether the bottle has been opened after original packaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a foil covering that changes its covering state from complete to partial, creating a visual indication of opening status. The foil transitions from covering the entire cap to exposing portions of the cap after the first opening, providing clear integrity information through visual change rather than color change.
Solution Approach 2:
The foil covering is divided into a first portion and a second portion that can be separately positioned. The first portion covers the cap in the closed state, while the second portion remains attached to the dispenser, creating distinct segments that indicate opening status through their relative positions.
2Reliability
If a foil covering is used to indicate opening status, then integrity information is provided, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The foil covering is integrated with both the cap and the dispenser assembly, merging multiple functions into a single component. The foil serves as both a protective cover and an integrity indicator, while also working with the constraining means to prevent reclosing, thereby combining sealing, indicating, and anti-tampering functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The foil covering acts as an intermediary element between the cap and the external environment. It provides the integrity indication function while mediating the interaction between the cap assembly and the user, preventing direct access to the cap until the bottle is legitimately opened.
3Ease of operation
If the cap can be freely removed and reattached, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to detect previous opening is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The constraining means (protrusion and recess) are pre-configured to prevent the cap from returning to its original sealed position after the first opening. This preliminary anti-action is built into the structure, automatically preventing reclosing and maintaining the opened state indication without requiring additional active components or user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The foil covering is pre-positioned to completely cover the cap in the closed state, and the constraining means are pre-configured in the dispenser assembly. When the bottle is opened for the first time, these pre-positioned elements automatically indicate the opening status and prevent reclosing, eliminating the need for additional indication mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A bottle-closing device (10) comprising a cap (11) having a first top portion (12) and a side portion (13); a diffusing group (14, 15) suitable for coupling at the top with the cap (11) and at the bottom with a bottle neck; a covering case (20) comprising a second top portion (21) and a bottom portion (22) connected to each other along a breaking line (23), the second top portion (21) of said covering case (20) being suitable for coupling with the cap (11) so as to move with respect to the cap (11) between a first assembly- position and a second position, subsequent to the first opening of the device (10), wherein the second top portion (21) is irreversibly constrained thereto by constraining means (24, 25, 26, 34, 35); the bottle- closing device (10) being characterised in that the constraining means (24, 25, 26, 34, 35) comprise at least one protruding portion (24) realized inside the second top portion (21) and at least a first (25) and at least a second (26) receiving seat realized on the side portion (13) of the cap (11), the protruding portion (24) is at least partially housed in the receiving seats (25, 26) when the second top portion (21) is in an assembly and partial covering position respectively.