Bottle Closure Assembly With Flexible Tethered Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottle closure assemblies with tethered caps interfere with drinking and are difficult to reseal due to the cap's attachment to the retaining ring, leading to littering issues and recycling challenges.
Innovation Solution
A bottle closure assembly featuring a cap and retaining ring connected via two non-frangible connecting portions that allow the cap to be unscrewed and bent back to create an angle of at least 150°, maintaining attachment while preventing snagging and allowing easy resealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap is attached to the retaining ring via a non-frangible connection, then the cap remains attached to prevent littering, but the cap interferes with drinking from the bottle
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion is designed as a flexible tether that allows dynamic movement of the cap relative to the retaining ring. The cap can be bent back to a fully open position where it does not interfere with drinking, while remaining attached to prevent loss. This dynamic flexibility resolves the contradiction between maintaining attachment and ensuring drinking accessibility.
2Reliability
If the cap is tethered to the retaining ring, then littering is prevented, but the cap is difficult to reseal
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible connecting portion allows the cap to be maneuvered during the resealing process. The user can move the cap along the tether to position it correctly over the bottle opening, making resealing easier despite the attachment. This dynamic flexibility resolves the contradiction between cap retention and resealing ease.
3Ease of operation
If the cap is bent back to create a large angle with the retaining ring, then interference with drinking is minimized, but the cap may snag on the retaining ring
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion is designed as a flexible tether that can bend and flex smoothly as the cap is moved to its open position. This flexibility prevents the cap from snagging on the retaining ring while allowing it to be bent back to a large angle that minimizes interference with drinking. The flexible nature of the tether resolves the contradiction between drinking accessibility and movement smoothness.
Data Source
AI summary
A bottle closure assembly comprising a cap, a retaining ring, and first and second connecting portions connecting the cap to the retaining ring, the cap being provided with a male thread configured to reversibly engage a female thread on a bottle opening, the retaining ring being configured to engage a bottle neck and where the connecting portions connect two points on the cap to two points on the retaining ring; each of the connecting portions comprises an upper end joined to the cap, and a lower end joined to the retaining ring, wherein as the cap is unscrewed it separates from the retaining ring but remains connected to said retaining ring via the connecting portions; and wherein, in the open configuration, the cap can be oriented such that the cap and retaining ring define an angle of at least 150°, especially at least 180°.