Beverage Container Cap With Compressible Septum for Needle Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wine bottle caps, especially those made of metal, cannot be pierced for wine extraction without removal, leading to potential leakage and exposure to air, which can damage the beverage.
Innovation Solution
A cap with a septum and barrier material that allows needle passage for wine extraction without removing the cap, maintaining a seal and preventing gas ingress, featuring a laminated barrier and compressible silicone septum for resealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a metal screw cap is used to seal a wine bottle, then the bottle can be sealed securely, but the cap cannot be pierced for wine extraction without removal
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into functionally distinct segments: a barrier material layer for sealing, a septum layer for needle penetration and resealing, and a body structure for mechanical support. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in its function, enabling both secure sealing and needle extraction capability
Solution Approach 2:
The cap employs composite material construction with a barrier material (such as laminate or foil) combined with an elastomeric septum material. This composite structure provides both the seal integrity of the barrier material and the puncture-resistant, self-sealing properties of the elastomeric material, resolving the contradiction between seal security and extraction capability
2Productivity
If the cap is removed for wine extraction, then wine can be extracted, but air and gas can enter the bottle damaging the beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The septum acts as an intermediary component between the external environment and the bottle interior. It allows the needle to pass through for wine extraction while maintaining a seal that prevents air and gas ingress. The elastomeric material deforms to accommodate the needle and then returns to its original shape to reseal, enabling extraction without harmful gas entry
Solution Approach 2:
The cap utilizes flexible thin film structures, particularly the elastomeric septum layer, that can deform elastically during needle insertion and extraction. This flexibility allows the material to accommodate the extraction process while maintaining continuous sealing, preventing harmful gases from entering the bottle during beverage extraction
3Ease of operation
If a pierceable stopper with thermoplastic resin is used, then needle penetration is possible, but the material must be confined in a compressed state
Solution Approach 1:
The cap design changes the physical state parameters of the sealing materials by pre-compressing the elastomeric septum between the barrier material and the cap body. This pre-compression creates a dense, needle-resistant structure that can be penetrated cleanly while maintaining sealing integrity, simplifying the overall structure compared to requiring complex confinement mechanisms
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
Enables multiple extractions from a sealed wine bottle without cap removal, preserving beverage quality by preventing air and gas entry, allowing for extended storage with minimal impact on the wine.
Implementation Method 1
The septum may be arranged in the body to be compressed radially and/or axially, e.g., to aid the septum in resealing after penetration by a needle having a diameter of 16 gauge, 1,29 mm, or less
Implementation Method 2
The septum is arranged to reseal upon the withdrawal of a needle that passes entirely through the septum and the barrier layer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
A cap (10) for engagement with a beverage container allows an extractor needle or other conduit to pass through a portion of the cap such that beverage can be removed from the container without removing the cap. The cap includes a septum (12) that is radially and/or axially compressed and a barrier layer (13) arranged to engage with the container to form a seal.