Closure Assembly with Pivoting Lever for Cap Separation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure assemblies for containers, such as those with plastic caps, often result in the cap becoming separated from the spout, leading to environmental contamination and hindering proper disposal or recycling.
Innovation Solution
A closure assembly featuring a spout with a tubular neck and a cap that integrates a connecting lever, allowing easy assembly and disassembly through axial motion, with a snap connection that prevents unintentional separation, and a pivoting mechanism for opening and closing, ensuring the cap remains attached during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional plastic cap is used on a spout, then the cap can be easily removed by the user, but the cap becomes separated from the spout and ends up in the environment instead of being properly disposed of
Solution Approach 1:
A connecting lever is introduced as an intermediary component between the cap and spout. This lever includes a cap connector portion attached to the cap and a spout connector portion attached to the spout, creating a physical link that prevents cap separation while allowing controlled opening and closing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The closure assembly is divided into separate functional components: the cap, the connecting lever, and the spout. The lever acts as a distinct segment that bridges the cap and spout, enabling the cap to remain attached during use but be intentionally removed when needed
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cap is securely attached to prevent separation, then environmental contamination is reduced, but the ease of opening and closing by the user is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting lever is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to pivot and move relative to the cap and spout. This dynamic design enables the lever to accommodate the opening and closing motions while maintaining the attached state, providing both security and operability
3Reliability
If a screw-type cap connection is used, then secure attachment is achieved, but the relative motion required to disengage increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The complex threading mechanism of screw-type connections is extracted and replaced with a simpler connector portion design. The cap connector portion and spout connector portion use a direct engagement mechanism without threads, reducing the relative motion complexity while maintaining secure attachment
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a closure assembly (1) for a container and a method for manufacturing and filling a container with such a closure assembly. The closure assembly comprises a plastic spout (5) having an attachment portion (5a) which is configured to be sealed or is sealed to a container. It further comprises a plastic cap (10) to be mounted on the spout, comprising a cap body (11) with a protective slotted skirt (11b) and a connecting lever (14). The lever is provided with a spout connector portion (14a) at the lower end thereof. The spout is provided with an associated lever connector portion (5k), wherein the spout connector portion and the lever connector portion are interconnectable.