Closure Cap Bottom Plate Membrane Peeling Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure caps for containers, such as those described in WO 2014/023818, face challenges in forming a large opening reliably at the bottom upon activation while maintaining structural integrity, leading to potential discharge of membrane or plunger pieces into the container, especially in medical applications requiring complete substance discharge.
Innovation Solution
The closure cap design incorporates a hingedly connected bottom plate within the cap housing, separate from the membrane, which allows for a larger opening to be formed by peeling the membrane off the rim without piercing, ensuring the membrane remains intact and preventing its pieces from entering the container. This design includes a rotatable segment and a connection segment with a hinged connection, allowing the membrane to be peeled away, and in some embodiments, a sharpened edge on the plunger for enhanced opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the membrane is made thin to allow easy piercing, then the piercing force required is reduced, but the structural rigidity decreases making it difficult to form a large opening
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the opening mechanism into two separate functional components: a thin pierceable membrane for sealing and a rigid bottom plate for forming the opening. The membrane (16) is made thin and flexible to be easily pierced by the plunger, while the bottom plate (42) provides the necessary structural rigidity to form a large opening without deforming. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
2Strength
If the membrane is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the structural rigidity is improved, but the forces required for piercing increase and handling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the structural support function (bottom plate) from the sealing function (membrane). The bottom plate (42) maintains structural rigidity and forms the opening, while the thin membrane (16) provides sealing that can be easily pierced. This eliminates the need for the membrane to simultaneously provide both sealing and structural support, allowing low piercing force while maintaining overall structural integrity.
3Force
If a small opening is formed in the membrane, then the membrane can be easily pierced, but it is insufficient for complete discharge of powders or granulate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the piercing function (membrane) from the opening formation function (bottom plate). The membrane is pierced to allow the bottom plate to rotate and form a large opening that enables complete discharge of powders, granulate, or other bulk materials. The plunger (17) pierces the membrane and then continues to push the bottom plate (42) to rotate, creating a large opening sufficient for complete substance discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom plate (42) is designed to rotate dynamically from a closed position to an open position. During storage, the bottom plate remains in the closed position maintaining sealing. Upon activation, the plunger pushes the bottom plate to rotate outward, dynamically transforming the opening from small (when closed) to large (when open), enabling complete discharge of bulk materials.
4Quantity of substance
If the membrane is pierced to form an opening, then the opening is formed, but pieces of the membrane may be discharged into the container
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the membrane (16) from the opening formation structure (bottom plate 42). The membrane is pierced but does not form the opening itself; instead, the rigid bottom plate rotates to form the opening. This prevents membrane pieces from being discharged into the container, as the bottom plate provides a clean, controlled opening edge that does not fragment during the opening process.
Data Source
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Figure 8~10
AI summary
A closure cap (10) having a cap housing (12) which includes a substantially cylindrical recess (13) which has a top opening (14) and a bottom opening (15), wherein the bottom opening (15) is closed by means of a membrane (16), a plunger (17) which comprises a cover (18) and a substantially cylindrical lateral surface (19) which extends downward from an underside of the cover (18), wherein the lateral surface (19) engages in the top opening (14) of the recess (13) of the cap housing (12), and a chamber (20) which is defined by the recess (13) of the cap housing (12) and the plunger (17) which engages in the recess (13) by way of its lateral surface (19), the plunger (17) and the cap housing (12) being arranged so as to be movable relative to one another between a first, non-active position, in which a bottom edge (22) of the lateral surface (19) is arranged above the bottom opening (15) of the recess (13) of the cap housing (12) and a second, activated position, in which the bottom edge (22) of the lateral surface (19) opens the bottom opening (15). The closure cap (10) is characterized in that the cap housing (12) is provided with a bottom plate (42) arranged in the bottom opening (15) and hingedly connected to the cylindrical recess (13), the membrane (16) being arranged beneath the bottom plate (42) and being sealingly connected to a bottom rim (44) of the cylindrical recess (13).