Closure Arrangement with Gravity-Dispensed Additive Compartment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing closure arrangements for containers require users to perform a special action to add an additive, leading to potential misuse and increased manufacturing complexity and costs, while also potentially shortening the shelf life of liquid contents due to premature mixing.

Innovation Solution

A closure arrangement with a cap, insert, and lid that automatically adds an additive to the container when opened, using a compartment system where the additive falls into the container due to gravity upon cap rotation, allowing for easy production and adaptation to various container and additive forms without complex machinery modifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the user performs a special action to add the additive, then the additive can be added, but the operation becomes complex and may lead to misuse

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive addition reliabilityVSAvoiduser operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The closure system automatically adds the additive to the container when the cap is removed, without requiring any special user action. The additive is held in a compartment during storage and automatically dispensed when the closure is opened, making the system self-serving and eliminating the need for user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The additive is pre-positioned in a compartment within the closure during manufacturing. This preliminary placement ensures that the additive is ready to be added automatically when the closure is opened, eliminating the need for users to manually add it at the time of use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the additive is mixed with the liquid content at the time of filling, then the additive is added, but the shelf life is shortened due to premature mixing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilling efficiencyVSAvoidcontainer shelf life

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The closure system is divided into separate functional components: the cap, the body containing the liquid, and a separate compartment for the additive. This segmentation keeps the additive isolated from the liquid content during storage and transport, preventing premature mixing and extending shelf life, while allowing easy addition when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The additive is extracted from the liquid content and placed in a separate compartment within the closure. This separation ensures that the additive does not come into contact with the liquid until the closure is opened, preventing degradation and maintaining product stability during storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a complicated closure structure with intricate co-operating parts is used, then the additive can be added, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive addition functionalityVSAvoidclosure manufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The additive compartment is integrated into the closure structure itself, merging the storage function and the dispensing function into a single unified component. This eliminates the need for separate additive containers and complex dispensing mechanisms, simplifying the overall structure and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining reliable additive addition functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Ensures automatic additive addition without user intervention, reduces production costs, and prevents premature mixing, thereby extending shelf life and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Implementation Method 1

a closure arrangement with a cap, insert, and lid that automatically adds an additive to the container when opened, using a compartment system where the additive falls into the container due to gravity upon cap rotation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS8177059B2Closure arrangement

Publication Date: 2012.05.15 EKBERG EMBALLAGE AB

AI summary

The present invention concerns a closure for a container (1). The closure contains an additive to be added to the content of the container (1) at the first opening of the container (1). The closure comprises a cap (2), an insert (4) and a lid (11) covering a compartment (15) receiving the additive. The compartment (15) is defined by a doomed or conical center part (5) of the insert (4), an inner wall (14) of the cap (2) and the lid (11). The additive is added to the content of the container (1) in that the inner wall (14) of the cap (2) leaves a sealing contact with the center part (5) of the insert (4) when the cap (2) is unscrewed, giving access to openings (10) of the insert (4).