Captive Closure Retaining Strap Design for Non-Interfering Pouring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing captive closures fail to securely move the screw cap away from the container opening without risking the container tipping over, leading to interference during pouring or drinking.

Innovation Solution

The screw cap is designed with retaining straps formed by two separate weakening lines, each interrupted at least once in the circumferential direction, with overlapping sections that allow the cap to be lifted over the container edge and moved sideways, preventing interference and ensuring stability through elastic tension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the screw cap is connected to the tamper-evident band via short retaining bands with a hinged section extending into the cap body, then the cap remains close to the container opening, but the cap cannot be lifted over the edge and may fold back over the opening when the container is tilted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelength of retaining bandsVSAvoidhandling stability of screw cap
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the key parameter of retaining band length from short to long, enabling the screw cap to be lifted over the container edge. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing the cap to achieve a stable position away from the opening while maintaining connection through the extended retaining bands

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the screw cap is connected via two short retaining bands to a hinged section, then the structure is simpler, but the screw cap folds back onto the container opening due to gravity when tilted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure of hinge sectionVSAvoidstability of screw cap position
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the hinged section from the cap body, eliminating the complex internal hinge structure. The retaining bands are extended to provide sufficient length for lifting the cap over the edge, achieving stability without requiring a complex hinge mechanism extending into the cap body

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Length of moving object

If the screw cap remains close to the container opening after opening, then the retaining bands are shorter, but the cap interferes with pouring or drinking when the container is tilted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelength of retaining bandsVSAvoidinterference with pouring or drinking
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the screw cap to move from a position near the container opening to a position laterally displaced beyond the container edge. The extended retaining bands allow the cap to be lifted over the edge and positioned in a different spatial dimension, eliminating interference with pouring or drinking operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3880573B1Captive closure
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 BERICAP HOLDING GMBH
  • EP3880573B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3880573B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3880573B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a closure consisting of a screw cap (10) and a tamperproof strip (3). The screw cap (2) has at least one cylindrical cap casing (2) with an inner thread (17), and the lower edge of the cap casing (2) is connected to the circumferential tamperproof strip (3) along easily tearable weakness lines (13, 14) at the lower open end of the cap casing (2). The tamperproof strip (3) remains captively connected to the cap casing (2) after a tearing process by means of holding strips (15, 16). The aim of the invention is to improve a closure of the aforementioned type such that the screw cap can be reliably moved away from the opening region of a corresponding container neck without the risk of the screw cap reaching across the cross-section of the container opening or at least into the proximity of the container opening, where the screw cap would interfere while pouring or drinking directly from the container for example, when the container is tilted. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the holding strips (15, 16) are formed by two separate weakness lines (13, 14), each of which is interrupted at least once in the circumferential direction and which overlap in the circumferential direction and run at an axial distance to each other at least in the overlap region. The interruption sections (11, 12) of the two weakness lines (13, 14) are bridged by the respective other weakness line (14, 13) preferably at an axial distance, and at least two overlap regions on both sides of the interruption section of the upper weakness line extend over a respective circumferential angle of the tamperproof strip of at least 60° and less than 160°.