Closure Cap Flow Restriction Member Spout Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible pouches for infant and child food products often result in free-flowing contents, leading to spills and choking hazards due to the lack of effective flow restriction during consumption.

Innovation Solution

A closure cap with a flow-restriction member, comprising a rigid tubular base, a flexible cover, and a detachable flow restriction member that can be positioned over the spout to restrict the flow of materials, allowing for optional control of product flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a free-flowing spout is used for dispensing product, then ease of dispensing is improved, but spill risk and choking hazard increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of dispensingVSAvoidspill risk and choking hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flow restriction member is pre-positioned within the closure cap structure, ready to engage with the spout opening. The frangible bridges are pre-formed and positioned to break upon activation, allowing the flow restriction member to be deployed in advance before the harmful effects of free-flowing product occur during dispensing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flow restriction member acts as an intermediary component between the closure cap and the spout opening. It mediates the flow of product by providing a controlled aperture that restricts flow rate, thereby reducing spill risk and choking hazard while still allowing product to be dispensed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a flow restriction member is added to control product flow, then spill risk and choking hazard are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespill risk and choking hazardVSAvoidclosure cap structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow restriction member is merged with the closure cap structure, forming an integrated assembly. The frangible bridges connect the flow restriction member to the tubular base, creating a unified structure that reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device while still providing flow control functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure cap is segmented into distinct functional components: the tubular base for sealing, the flow restriction member for flow control, and the frangible bridges for activation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9969539B2Closure cap with flow restriction member

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA

AI summary

A closure cap for a container having a spout is described. The closure cap includes a tubular base, a flexible cover, and a flow restriction member. The tubular base is positionable about and sealingly engageable with the spout. The flexible cover is extends over the tubular base and movable between a non-depressed position and a depressed position. The flow restriction member is detachably mounted to the tubular base such that the flow restriction member is in a spaced, coaxial relationship with the spout when the tubular base is engaged with the spout and when the flexible cover is in the non-depressed position and such that the flow restriction member is detached from the tubular base and positioned on and engaged with the spout of the container when the flexible cover is moved to the depressed position.