Bottle Neck Locking Feature for Stopper Retention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for securing a closure shell to a plastic bottle neck fail to prevent the shell from being completely removed after opening, leading to interference with the bottle aperture during use due to the elastic properties of plastic attachment portions attempting to return to their original configuration.

Innovation Solution

A locking feature is integrally formed into the bottle neck, allowing the closure shell to remain attached and positioned away from the bottle aperture, preventing interference during use by securing the closure shell between a transport ring and the shoulder of the bottle neck.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the closure shell is attached to the tamper band with plastic attachment portions, then the closure shell stays attached to the bottle neck after opening, but the elastic properties of the plastic attachment portions cause them to return to original configuration, making the closure shell interfere with the bottle aperture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure shell attachmentVSAvoidclosure shell interference with bottle aperture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful elastic attachment portions from the system by designing the closure shell to separate from the tamper band through a weakness line. The closure shell is taken out from the attached state and repositioned into the storage recess, removing the source of interference with the bottle aperture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage recess acts as an intermediary structure that receives and holds the closure shell after separation. This recess provides a designated storage location that prevents the closure shell from interfering with the bottle aperture while maintaining secure attachment to the bottle neck.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the closure shell is completely removed from the bottle aperture after opening, then the closure shell can be discarded, but this prevents subsequent closure of the bottle and represents waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebottle openingVSAvoidclosure shell waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements a partial discarding strategy where the tamper band is discarded after opening (fulfilling its tamper-evident function), but the closure shell is recovered and retained on the bottle neck through the storage recess. This allows the closure shell to be reused for subsequent closing operations, reducing waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The weakness line is pre-formed in the closure shell during manufacturing, allowing for controlled separation from the tamper band. This preliminary structural design enables the closure shell to be easily detached from the tamper band while remaining attached to the bottle neck via the storage recess, facilitating subsequent reuse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a tethered stopper with spiral strip is used to keep closure shell attached, then the closure shell remains on the bottle, but the elastic properties cause interference with the bottle aperture during use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure shell retentionVSAvoidinterference with bottle aperture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the closure shell structure by incorporating a weakness line that separates the closure shell from the tamper band. This segmentation allows the closure shell to be independently positioned in the storage recess without the elastic interference that would occur with a continuous tethered connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tamper band is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after opening, while the closure shell is retained for reuse. This selective disposal strategy eliminates the need for elastic tethering mechanisms that would cause interference, as the closure shell is simply held in the storage recess without elastic attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP3837187B1Locking bottle transport ring for a stopper

Publication Date: 2023.06.07 NOVEMBAL USA INC

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

The present invention discloses a stopper affixed to a bottle. The bottle comprises a bottle finish, a tamper evident ring, a transport ring, a neck including an integrally formed locking feature. The bottle finish is configured to receive a stopper comprising a closure shell and a tamper band, where the closure shell and the tamper band being separably connected. The transport ring is located below the tamper evident ring and the tamper band is configured to be positioned between the tamper evident ring and the transport ring. The locking feature is configured to receive and retain at least a portion of the closure shell between a bottom surface of the transport ring and a bottom surface of the neck when the closure shell is separated from the tamper band. Also, the present invention discloses a method for locking a stopper onto a bottle.