Bottle Cap and Fitment Assembly Simultaneous Securing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bottle cap assembly processes require separate securing of fitments and caps to bottles, which is time-consuming and costly, as they need to be threaded onto the bottle sequentially.
Innovation Solution
A cap assembly that includes a cap with a retaining extension to engage the fitment's central aperture, allowing simultaneous securing of the cap and fitment to the bottle, with the cap being threadedly secured on the bottle to retain the fitment in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fitment and cap are secured to bottle separately in sequential steps, then each component can be independently manufactured and assembled, but the packaging process becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fitment and cap into a single integrated cap assembly where the fitment is permanently attached to the cap. This merging allows the entire assembly to be installed on the bottle in one operation, eliminating the sequential steps of separately installing the fitment then the cap, thereby doubling the packaging speed while maintaining independent manufacturability of the integrated unit.
2Manufacturing precision
If fitment is secured to bottle before cap installation, then the fitment can be properly positioned, but an additional assembly step is required
Solution Approach 1:
By permanently attaching the fitment to the cap during manufacturing, the patent ensures precise fitment positioning is achieved in the factory setting. This eliminates the need for a separate field assembly step where the fitment would need to be individually positioned and secured to the bottle, reducing assembly complexity from two steps to one while maintaining positioning accuracy.
3Reliability
If cap is threaded onto bottle over separately installed fitment, then both components can be secured, but the process requires two separate operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fitment and cap into a single unit that is installed on the bottle in one threading operation. The cap's internal threads engage with the bottle's external threads while the integrated fitment simultaneously seals the bottle opening. This single operation achieves the same secure attachment reliability as the two-step process but cuts assembly time by approximately 50%.
Data Source
AI summary
A cap assembly for a bottle including a cap and a fitment. The cap includes a tubular side wall extending from an upper lateral wall to an open lower end. An inner surface of the tubular side wall includes a thread. An inner surface of the upper lateral wall includes a retaining extension. The fitment includes a side wall extending from an upper lateral surface to an open lower end. The upper lateral surface of the fitment includes a central aperture having a shape that is reciprocal to a shape of the retaining extension of the cap. The fitment is selectively secured within the cap by directly engaging the central aperture of the fitment with the retaining extension of the cap. The cap and fitment of the cap assembly are secured to a bottle simultaneously. The cap is threadedly secured on the bottle, thereby securing the fitment to the bottle.