Tamper-Evident Bottle Closure With Integral Safety Strip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current closure methods for bottles do not ensure safety and tamper-proofing, as the stopper and container can be easily separated and reused, compromising the integrity of the seal and risking product safety and consumer health.
Innovation Solution
The stopper and container are designed to form a single, integral part upon closure, with a safety strip engaging within the container's neck, making it impossible to reopen and reuse the seal without damaging it, and a safety seal band attaches the stopper to the container, preventing detachment by heating or other means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the stopper and container are designed as two separate parts that can be easily separated, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of the seal is worsened as the container can be opened and reused without detection
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper and container are merged into one integral part through the safety strip engagement mechanism. The safety strip on the stopper engages with the neck of the container, creating an integrated closure system that cannot be separated without damaging the seal, thus ensuring reliability while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The safety strip is pre-configured on the stopper before closure. When the stopper is placed on the container, the safety strip automatically engages with the neck, preliminarily establishing the tamper-evident connection that prevents future unauthorized opening without compromising the sealing integrity
2Reliability
If the stopper and container form one integral part upon closure, then the reliability of the seal is improved, but the device complexity is worsened due to the engagement mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is segmented into distinct functional components: the stopper body, the safety strip, and the container neck receptacle. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively forming an integral tamper-proof seal, managing complexity through functional decomposition
Solution Approach 2:
The safety strip is nested within the engagement mechanism between the stopper and container neck. The strip is inserted into a receptacle on the container neck, creating a nested structure that integrates the tamper-evident feature within the existing closure geometry, minimizing additional complexity
3Reliability
If a safety seal band is used to attach the stopper to the container, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation is worsened as heating is required for detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The safety seal band utilizes thermal phase transition for detachment. Heating the band causes it to soften and lose its rigid attachment properties, allowing the stopper to be removed. This phase transition enables permanent attachment during normal conditions while allowing controlled detachment when heat is applied, balancing reliability and operational flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
Safe and sealed closure method for the neck of a bottle, wherein the stopper (1) used and the container (2) to be closed are such that they form one integral part (5) upon closing of the container with the stopper via engagement by entry of a safety strip (6) of said stopper into a part (4) positioned on the container's neck such that the safety strip enters into the part of the container neck in one irreversible way, making the safety strip and the part one integral, non-detachable part or by entry of a safety strip positioned on the container's neck into a part of said stopper such that the safety strip enters into the part of the stopper in one irreversible way, making the safety strip and the part one integral, non-detachable part, wherein said safety strip or said part is attached to a safety seal band (8) of the stopper at an end of the safety seal band, wherein the safety seal band is attached to the whole circumference of the stopper when closed and wherein the safety seal band partially detaches from the stopper upon opening the bottle from opening points keeping the stopper attached to the container.