Cap Guarantee Seal Bridge Design for Spike Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current caps with guarantee seals are not safe for children as they can form spikes that may harm or be swallowed, and existing designs do not meet stringent safety standards, particularly in fruit juice containers.

Innovation Solution

A cap design with a guarantee seal that breaks into non-spiking portions upon opening, featuring a bridge connecting guarantee portions to prevent spike formation and safety elements to keep the seal constrained, ensuring the seal remains integral to the cap and does not detach or pose a choking hazard.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the guarantee seal breaks into portions upon opening, then the guarantee function is achieved, but the seal portions form spikes that may harm or be swallowed by children

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguarantee functionVSAvoidspike formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guarantee seal is divided into multiple guarantee portions connected by bridges. When opened, the bridges break to separate the portions (achieving guarantee function), but the portions are designed with engagement elements that prevent them from forming dangerous spikes (resolving the harm issue).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Engagement elements act as intermediaries between the guarantee portions and the cap body, maintaining controlled association after breakage. These engagement elements prevent the portions from forming spikes while still indicating opening, thus mediating between guarantee function and safety requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the guarantee seal portions remain associated to the cap body, then spike formation is prevented, but the association is weak and portions may be detached and swallowed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespike preventionVSAvoidseal attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement elements are pre-designed into the guarantee portions before use. These elements are specifically shaped to engage with the cap body in a predetermined manner, ensuring strong and reliable association that prevents detachment and swallowing, while still allowing the guarantee function to work.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the cap dimensions are restricted to prevent swallowing, then child safety is improved, but the cap functionality and user experience are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswallowing preventionVSAvoidcap functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement elements extend radially outward from the cap body in a direction perpendicular to the main cap structure. This dimensional extension allows the seal portions to remain securely associated without increasing the cap's main dimensions, thus maintaining child safety while ensuring reliable attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10232985B2Cap for container provided with guarantee seal

Publication Date: 2019.03.19 GUALA PACK SPA

AI summary

The object of the present invention is a cap provided with a guarantee seal. The guarantee seal consists of guarantee portions comprising an engagement portion and a connecting portion. The seal further comprises bridges for connecting adjacent guarantee portions to one another and a safety portion that makes the engagement portion integral with the handling portion. The safety portion is structurally suitable for keeping the engagement portion constrained in the broken seal configuration, for preventing the forming of dangerous spikes.