Closure devices for containers suitable for holding liquids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure devices for liquid containers, particularly designed for children, require complex molding processes, leading to high manufacturing costs and potential leakage issues.
Innovation Solution
A closure device featuring a collar with an elastically deformable membrane and lock flanges that forms a seal around the container's neck, allowing easy drinking while preventing leakage, with simple shapes to reduce molding costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex shaped parts are used to achieve reliable sealing and prevent leakage, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to complex molding processes
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device is divided into distinct functional segments: a collar component with sealing surface, a membrane component with aperture, and lock flanges. Each segment has a simple geometry that is easy to mold separately, yet together they achieve reliable sealing through the coordinated arrangement of the seal along the collar lip and the membrane aperture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible membrane as the closing element instead of a rigid complex-shaped plug. This thin film structure is simple to manufacture yet provides effective sealing when pressed against the collar lip by the elastic deformation of the membrane itself, eliminating the need for complex molded sealing features
2Ease of operation
If the membrane is made elastically deformable to allow easy opening by user pressure, then ease of operation is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic membrane is designed to utilize its own material properties for both sealing and opening functions. When the user applies pressure, the membrane's elasticity automatically provides the deformation needed to open the aperture and control liquid flow, eliminating the need for additional mechanical opening mechanisms or complex actuating structures
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane's physical state changes dynamically through elastic deformation in response to user pressure. The material transitions from a sealed state (flat against the collar lip) to an open state (deformed to create aperture), and back to sealed state when pressure is released. This parameter change approach simplifies the structure by relying on material property changes rather than mechanical mechanism changes
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 device effectively prevents undesired leakage while allowing easy liquid access, reducing manufacturing costs through simplified design and ensuring fluid-tight sealing.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable membrane (6), which is adapted to be connected to the collar (3)
Implementation Method 2
the seal is designed to be at least partially released by the pressure exerted by the mouth of a user to drink from the container
Data Source
AI summary
A closure device for containers suitable for holding liquids may include: a collar adapted to be applied to a neck of a liquid container, the collar having a lip; an elastically deformable membrane, configured to connect to the collar and to close the liquid container, wherein the membrane is configured to rest upon the lip and to define a seal along the lip, and wherein the seal is at least partially releasable by pressure exerted by a mouth of a user; and first and second flanges. The first flange is formed as a single piece with the membrane. The second flange is fixed to the collar to be locked between the first flange and the membrane. The first flange includes: a first portion projecting out of the membrane; and a second portion projecting out of the first portion. The second portion is oriented perpendicularly to the first portion.