Closure Clip Bulge Design for Packaging Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure clips for tubular or bag-like packaging struggle to achieve sufficient locking force and slip resistance, especially with smooth-surfaced plastic casings, which limits the tightness and security of the closure.
Innovation Solution
The closure clip design involves piercing the strip or wire-like material inward to create a bulge on the inside, increasing flexural strength and punctiform pressure, and incorporating recesses and burrs to enhance adhesion and friction, while maintaining symmetry and stability during the embossing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the material thickness is increased to achieve greater locking force, then the locking force increases, but the material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a material bulge at specific locations on the clip base rather than uniformly increasing material thickness throughout. This localized material accumulation concentrates the locking force at critical contact points with the packaging material while keeping the overall material consumption low. The bulge is formed by piercing the strip material inward during embossing, creating a targeted reinforcement zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat clip base to a three-dimensional structure with a material bulge. This dimensional change allows the clip to exert pressure not only in the planar direction but also creates punctiform pressure points through the bulge geometry, thereby increasing locking force without proportionally increasing material usage.
2Reliability
If the material thickness is increased to improve slip resistance, then the slip resistance increases, but the material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The material bulge creates localized high-friction zones at the contact interface between the clip and packaging material. By concentrating material accumulation at the bulge apex and surrounding areas, the patent maximizes slip resistance at the most critical contact points rather than uniformly increasing friction across the entire clip surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The material bulge introduces a curved, three-dimensional surface geometry that increases contact area and friction with the packaging material. The rounded apex and sloping sides of the bulge create multiple contact points and mechanical interlocking effects that enhance slip resistance more effectively than a flat surface would.
3Strength
If a stiffening bead is added to increase flexural strength, then the flexural strength increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the stiffening function with the existing clip base structure by forming the material bulge directly from the strip material during the embossing process. This integration eliminates the need for separate stiffening beads or additional structural elements, achieving enhanced flexural strength while maintaining device simplicity. The bulge serves both as a locking feature and a stiffening element.
Solution Approach 2:
The strip material itself provides the stiffening function through the material bulge, eliminating the need for external stiffening components. The material accumulation at the bulge location creates inherent structural reinforcement that resists bending forces without requiring additional beads, ribs, or support elements.
4Reliability
If grooves are added to reduce slipping risk, then the slip resistance increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of removing material to create grooves as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the approach by adding material to create a bulge. This material accumulation achieves enhanced slip resistance through increased contact pressure and friction at the bulge apex, eliminating the need for groove-cutting operations and reducing device complexity.
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
The modified closure clip achieves increased locking force and slip resistance by distributing pressure more effectively and increasing friction, ensuring a tighter seal without material thickness increase, thus addressing the challenges of smooth-surfaced packaging materials.
Implementation Method 1
The bulging of the material causes a stiffening and thus an increased flexural strength, since the material thickness (at least partially) increases in the bracket plane defined by the U-shape
Implementation Method 2
the pressure load of the closing clip on the enclosed plait of packaging material is increased at certain points, thereby improving the adhesion of the clip to the plait
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The method involves pressing an undulated profile with consecutive angular points along a band-shaped or filament-shaped material, where one angular point forms a clamp base (110). Flanks respectively adjacent to both sides of the points form u-shaped bent clamp side pieces (112, 114) and side piece ends (116, 118). The ends are bent outwards relative to the U-shape, at which two adjacent fastening clamps (100) are separably connected, where the material is penetrated inwards related to the U-shape. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a fastening clamp from a band-shaped or filament-shaped material for locking a tubular or marsupial packaging material (2) an embossing die for manufacturing a fastening clamp.