Captive Screw Closure With Pivoting Plate Strain Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screw closures with retaining straps suffer from high mechanical strain leading to potential separation of the screw cap from the tamper-evident band due to shearing forces during repeated use and tilting movements.
Innovation Solution
A screw closure design featuring a pivoting element, such as a pivoting plate, connected to the tamper-evident band and screw cap, allowing for a pure axial longitudinal movement followed by a pivoting movement to secure the screw cap in a stable position, reducing mechanical strain on the retaining elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If retaining straps are used to connect the screw cap to the tamper-evident band, then the screw cap can be retained after unscrewing, but the mechanical strain on the retaining straps becomes very high due to shearing forces during tilting movement
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism is divided into two distinct functional elements: pulling elements that maintain axial contact during removal, and a pivoting plate that enables controlled tilting movement. This segmentation allows each element to handle specific forces appropriately, with the pivoting plate absorbing shear forces that would otherwise damage the pulling elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting plate acts as an intermediary between the screw cap and the tamper-evident band during the transition from axial removal to tilted retention. It mediates the movement by providing a pivot point, allowing the screw cap to tilt without directly transmitting shear forces to the pulling elements.
2Ease of operation
If the screw cap is allowed to tilt during removal, then it can be easily separated from the container, but this tilting movement creates shearing force on the retaining elements
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism transitions from a static axial connection to a dynamic system that accommodates tilting movement. The pivoting plate is designed to rotate around a pivot point, enabling the screw cap to move from an axial removal position to a tilted retention position. This dynamic adaptation allows easy removal while controlling the forces on retaining elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system moves from one-dimensional axial movement to two-dimensional movement by introducing the pivoting plate. The screw cap can first be pulled axially off the container, then tilted in a different dimension around the pivot point of the pivoting plate, achieving easy removal without subjecting retaining elements to excessive shear forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A captive screw closure with a tamper-evident band and a screw cap captively connected thereto is disclosed. The screw closure includes an outer surface with an internal thread and an upper surface. The mechanical strain on the retaining bands are substantially reduced. This is achieved by the screw closure having at least one pulling element which permits a pure axial longitudinal movement of the screw cap to the tamper-evident band in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the screw closure. The screw closure includes a pivoting element, in particular a pivoting plate, connected either fixedly or pivotably to the tamper-evident band. The pivoting element, in particular the pivoting plate, is detachably connected to the screw cap. The pivoting element, in particular the pivoting plate, may be connected to the screw cap in a fixed but pivotable manner.