Cap With Additive Chamber Piercing Membrane Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging designs for biphase products require excessive force to mix components due to secure seals, often leading to user frustration and potential misuse, while also complicating the filling and assembly processes and increasing material complexity.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible cap with a piercing member that allows easy mixing of contents by collapsing with minimal force, featuring creases for efficient depression and a membrane that can be pierced without breaking a secure seal, along with a flip top or overcap for protection and secure attachment to a container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a secure seal is used to prevent volatile component permeation and protect from atmosphere, then sealing reliability is improved, but the force required to open the seal increases beyond acceptable levels for target users
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is segmented into a frangible membrane portion and a sealing portion. The frangible membrane is designed to break easily with minimal force to allow access, while the sealing portion maintains the secure seal during storage. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing both easy opening and reliable sealing through structurally distinct components.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the packaging have different mechanical properties: the frangible membrane area is designed with low breaking strength for easy puncture, while the rim seal area has high bonding strength for secure sealing. This local differentiation of material properties allows the same packaging structure to provide both easy access and reliable protection.
2Reliability
If a frangible membrane is used to separate components, then component separation is achieved, but additional blister packing steps and materials are required
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible membrane, sealing structure, and cap components are merged into a single integrated packaging structure. The membrane is sealed directly to the container rim within the cap assembly, eliminating the need for separate blister packs and reducing the number of discrete components while maintaining effective component separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a barrier to separate components, provides a frangible breaking surface for easy activation, and seals to the container rim to maintain product integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components.
3Reliability
If a screw thread is used to attach the cap to the container, then secure attachment is achieved, but the filling and assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cap and container are designed with pre-formed engagement features such as snap-fit rims or interference-fit interfaces that automatically secure the cap to the container during the filling process. This preliminary design of the attachment mechanism eliminates the need for separate threading operations or complex assembly steps while maintaining secure attachment.
4Reliability
If a hard sealing surface is used to seal the membrane to the container rim, then sealing is achieved, but variations in rim dimensions and torque backing-off cause insecure sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing interface uses a flexible membrane or compliant sealing element that can deform to accommodate variations in container rim dimensions. This flexibility allows the seal to maintain consistent contact and sealing force across different rim geometries, preventing torque backing-off and ensuring reliable sealing without requiring precise dimensional matching.
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
Reduces the force required to mix components, simplifies the filling and assembly process, and minimizes material complexity, ensuring secure and efficient mixing of contents within the packaging unit.
Implementation Method 1
A collapsible button defining a chamber therein, the cap having an opening at the bottom. A membrane securely covers the opening to seal in the contents of the chamber. The collapsible button has a piercing member on its inner surface disposed to pierce the membrane when sufficient inward pressure is applied to collapse the button.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention comprises a cap (101) having a chamber and a packaging unit having this cap (101) attached to a container. A membrane (405) separates the chamber in the cap from a reservoir in the container, so that two different components may be kept separate until ready to use. The cap (101) has a collapsible (102) button with a piercing element so that when the button (102) is pressed the membrane (405) is pierced and the contents of the chamber and reservoir may be mixed together.