Tamper-Evident Cap With Rotating Locking Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional caps for containers can unintentionally reopen after being reclosed, leading to issues such as loss of carbonation in beverages and potential safety hazards due to vaporization or leakage of contents like chemical solutions or liquid medicines.
Innovation Solution
A cap design featuring a ring portion with elastic pieces and a locking mechanism that includes protruding and engaging protrusions, preventing unintentional unscrewing by rotating the ring portion, which can be locked and unlocked to secure the cap in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cap portion is made easily removable for convenient access, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to accidental reopening
Solution Approach 1:
The cap transitions from a static sealed state to a dynamic locked state through the locking mechanism. The protruding portion engages with the cap portion to prevent rotation, transforming the simple removable cap into a dynamically controlled closure that maintains seal integrity while allowing intentional opening when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the ring portion and the cap portion. It mediates the interaction by providing a controlled engagement point that prevents accidental separation while maintaining the tamper-evident function of the ring portion.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent accidental opening, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is merged with the existing ring portion structure. The protruding portion is integrated into the ring portion, and the locking function is combined with the tamper-evident function, eliminating the need for separate locking components and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring portion serves multiple functions: it acts as a tamper-evident indicator, provides the locking mechanism through the protruding portion, and maintains the seal integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the ring portion is made rotatable for locking operation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ring portion is designed to be rotatable, transforming it from a static component to a dynamic one. This rotational capability enables the locking and unlocking operations through simple rotation, improving ease of operation while the rotational movement itself manages the complexity through a single degree of freedom.
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
Prevents accidental opening of the cap, maintaining the quality of contents by preventing carbonation loss and ensuring safety by minimizing leakage, while simplifying the locking and unlocking process.
Implementation Method 1
The ring portion is coupled to the bottom of the cap portion through a breakaway part and has elastic pieces that fold back so as to be anchored against the annular bead
Implementation Method 2
The protruding portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface and has an end portion forming a wedge shape
Data Source
AI summary
A cap is for a container body including a mouth portion having an upper potion provided with a thread, a middle portion provided with an annular bead portion, and a lower portion provided with an annular shoulder portion. The cap includes a cap portion, a ring portion, and the locking mechanism. The ring portion serves as a tamper-evident ring configured to be connected to the lower end of the cap portion through a breakaway part. The ring portion has an elastic piece folded and anchored on the annular bead portion. The ring portion is rotatably provided between the annular bead portion and the annular shoulder portion. The locking mechanism is configured to be operated by a rotational operation to prevent the cap portion from being unintentionally unscrewed.