Closure Device Additive Mixing Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure devices for releasing additive liquids into containers are complex to manufacture, require many parts, and often necessitate partial opening of the container, which can lead to undesirable mixing of liquids over time.
Innovation Solution
A closure device with a pressurized fluid chamber and a plug member that can be assembled before fitting to the container, featuring a cap member with a primary engagement mechanism allowing it to be lifted relative to the housing, creating a communication path for the additive liquid to mix with the main liquid compartment without fully opening the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the closure device is opened to enable mixing of additive liquid with container liquid, then the additive can be introduced into the container, but the container must be partially opened which may lead to undesirable mixing over time
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device is divided into separate functional components: a first closure portion that seals the container opening and a second closure portion that contains the additive liquid reservoir. This segmentation allows the additive introduction mechanism to operate independently without compromising the main seal, enabling additive delivery while maintaining container sealing integrity.
2Ease of operation
If a fluid chamber is positioned adjacent to the container opening for releasing additive liquid, then the additive can be introduced, but the device becomes complex to manufacture and requires many parts
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: the closure body simultaneously provides sealing against the container opening, houses the additive liquid reservoir, contains the delivery mechanism, and provides the means for activating additive release. This consolidation reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure device is designed as a multi-functional unit where the same structure performs multiple roles: sealing the container, storing the additive, delivering the additive, and providing user activation mechanisms. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, simplifying the overall device.
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 solution simplifies manufacturing, reduces component count, and ensures secure sealing and efficient mixing of additives into the container without premature mixing, maintaining a seal in both closed and open positions, and allows for easy assembly and filling before attachment to the container.
Implementation Method 1
a cap member defining a pressurised fluid chamber containing an additive liquid
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a closure device (10) which includes a fluid chamber (22) containing an additive such as a liquid. The closure device (10) is fitted to an opening in the neck (16) of a container (12), such as a bottle. The additive can be introduced and mixed into a liquid in the container (12) by operation of the closure device (10). The closure device (10) includes a cap member (20) having a fluid chamber and a housing 40 having a plug member 42. The cap member (20) is provided with a primary engagement means, such as an internal thread (30), which engages with a corresponding primary engagement means provided on the housing, such as an external thread (50), to allow the cap member (20) to be lifted relative to the housing (40) from a closed position in which the plug member closes an aperture (25) in the fluid chamber (22) to an open position in which the plug member is at least partially withdrawn from the aperture (25), thereby allowing the additive to pass from the fluid chamber (22) to the liquid in the bottle (12). The closure device (10) enables mixing of the additive and liquid in the bottle (12) without opening the closure in such a way as to allow the liquid to escape.