Liquid Bottle Cover with Reinforcing Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid-filled bottles with narrow openings face challenges in minimizing plastic material usage, optimizing manufacturing processes, and ensuring structural integrity to prevent breakage during transport, while maintaining effective sealing and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A liquid-filled bottle design featuring a narrow opening with a reinforcing element bonded to a flexible film closing element, which provides additional stiffness and integrity, eliminating the need for a separate cap and simplifying manufacturing by integrating label information on the cover member, thus reducing plastic material usage and enhancing user accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a narrow opening is used to enable precise pouring and limit contamination, then pouring convenience and contamination control are improved, but the risk of breakage at the opening during transport increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible film closing element that can be heat-sealed to the neck ring, creating a narrow opening configuration optimized for pouring convenience while the flexibility of the film material absorbs transport stresses that would otherwise cause breakage of rigid openings
Solution Approach 2:
The closing element is constructed as a composite structure with a film layer and an integrated reinforcing element, combining the sealing advantages of flexible film with the structural strength of the reinforcing element to prevent breakage during transport
2Loss of substance
If plastic material quantity is reduced to lower costs and environmental impact, then manufacturing cost and environmental impact are improved, but structural integrity and resistance to sudden pressure may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly thickening the entire closing element, the reinforcing element is strategically positioned only in the central portion where sudden pressure from drops or impacts is most likely to occur, providing localized strength enhancement while minimizing overall material usage
Solution Approach 2:
The closing element combines a thin flexible film with a centrally positioned reinforcing element, creating a composite structure that achieves high structural integrity at impact points while maintaining low overall material consumption
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple closing element is used to simplify manufacturing and reduce material, then manufacturing complexity and material usage are improved, but the ability to display information and provide user guidance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the sealing function of a cap, the structural reinforcement needed for transport durability, and an information display surface through the reinforcing element that can show opening instructions and product information
4Ease of operation
If the closing element is made flexible to enable easy removal and opening, then ease of operation is improved, but structural strength and resistance to sudden pressure may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element utilizes a flexible film material that can be easily peeled or pulled away from the neck ring, providing simple user operation while the integrated central reinforcing element compensates for the reduced pressure resistance that would result from using a thin flexible film alone
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 effectively reduces plastic material usage, enhances the structural integrity of the bottle neck, and simplifies manufacturing processes while ensuring easy and secure opening, even for small-capacity bottles, thereby addressing the challenges of breakage and material efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a reinforcing element (C2), defined by at least one layer of film material, and having a first surface (S1) bonded, by a layer of adhesive
Implementation Method 2
The rectangular capsule comprises a closing portion heat sealed onto a ring defined at the top of the neck
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The plastic bottle (1) is filled with liquid and provided with a rigid neck (4) that defines a narrow opening (5) with an inner diameter (D5) typically inferior to 40mm. A flexible sheet-like cover member (C), having a lower closing element and an upper reinforcing element, is provided to seal the opening. A reinforcing portion (10) of the reinforcing element (C2) is directly fastened to a central portion (6) of the closing element in contact with the annular upper face (F) of the neck and reinforces this central portion. A first surface (S1) suitable for displaying label information is defined by the reinforcing portion. The outer rim (8) of the reinforcing element extends along or close to a rim (4d) of the face (F). An optional pull tab (9) forming part of the closing element (C1) and/or an extension portion forming part of the reinforcing element (C2) may be provided.