Cap Assembly with Movable Component Holder and Tear Strip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing caps and closures for containers with dispensable components, such as powders or tablets, often suffer from complex designs, high manufacturing costs, and the risk of residue contamination due to fragments of foil or other materials falling into the mixed components.

Innovation Solution

A cap design featuring a movable component holder with first and second axially spaced seals, a removable tear strip, and a dome-shaped cover that allows for easy assembly and activation, ensuring the dispensable component is kept separate from other components until intentionally dispensed into the container, minimizing residue and manufacturing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a piercing tip or cutter is used to perforate or cut a foil seal, then one component is released into the supplemental component, but fragments of foil or other residue may fall into the mixed components causing contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent releaseVSAvoidresidue contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the harmful piercing tip or cutter from the system. Instead of using a piercing mechanism that creates contamination, the patent employs a foil seal that is removed entirely (taken out) to release the component. The foil seal is designed to be pulled away completely rather than pierced, ensuring no fragments remain in the mixed components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the sealing mechanism into a removable foil seal that is separated from the container body. The foil seal acts as an independent segment that can be completely removed by pulling, rather than being integrated into the container structure where it would require piercing. This segmentation allows clean separation without creating residue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If complex cap designs with multiple parts are used to dispense dispensable components, then dispensing functionality is achieved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing functionalityVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple functions into a single integrated cap structure. The cap body, component holder, and sealing mechanism are combined into one unified structure rather than separate components. This merging reduces the number of parts while maintaining dispensing functionality, as the cap itself performs both containment and dispensing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cap is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: it contains the dispensable component, provides sealing through the foil seal, enables dispensing through component holder movement, and prevents contamination. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized components for each function, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a piercing mechanism is used to release components, then sealing is maintained until activation, but the mechanism becomes complicated and difficult to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the traditional sealing approach. Instead of using a piercing mechanism that penetrates the seal at activation, the patent uses a foil seal that is removed completely in the opposite direction (pulled away). This inversion simplifies the activation mechanism from a complex piercing action to a simple pull-and-remove motion, making it easier to manufacture while maintaining sealing integrity until activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9067716B2Cap assembly for dispensing a dispensable component and method of making and using the same

Publication Date: 2015.06.30 SEISMIC SOLUTIONS LLC

AI summary

Cap can include a cap body mountable to a container. A main bore is disposed in the cap body. A movable component holder can include a lower end, an upper end, and a space sized and configured to contain a dispensable component. A cover is installable on the upper end of the component holder. A removable strip is at least one of arranged between a portion of the upper end of the component holder and an upper surface of the cap body, has an upper end removably connected to a portion of the upper end of the component holder, has a lower end contacting or arranged adjacent a portion of the cap body, and integrally formed with the upper end of the component holder.