Tamper-Evident Closure with Segmented Frangible Strip
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closures for high-quality alcohol bottles with tamper-evident features are complex, prone to reassembly after unauthorized opening, and lack effective prevention of refilling with counterfeit liquids due to unstable design elements and breakable indicator collars.
Innovation Solution
A closure design featuring an outer cap, internal threaded sleeve, cylindrical casing with a vertically displacing indicator collar, and a tamper-evident mechanism using contrasting color and denticles to visually indicate opening, combined with a multistart thread system and spline coupling to prevent reassembly and refilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a breakable indicator collar is used to show opening, then the tamper-evident function is provided, but the collar can be reassembled or removed by intruders to conceal the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into multiple functional segments: the cap body, the indicator collar, and the frangible strip. The frangible strip is specifically designed to break at a predetermined location during the first opening, creating a permanent separation that prevents reassembly. This segmentation ensures that once the breakable strip is activated, the closure cannot be restored to its original state, thereby maintaining the tamper-evident function while preventing concealment of the opening.
2Reliability
If numerous design elements are added to prevent refilling, then the security against counterfeit is improved, but the device complexity increases and batch production becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple security functions are merged into integrated components. The indicator collar combines the tamper-evident indication function with the prevention of refilling function through its engagement with the frangible strip. The frangible strip itself serves both as the breaking element that indicates opening and as the mechanical barrier that prevents refilling. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining comprehensive security against refilling and counterfeit.
3Strength
If a ball-shaped gate element is used, then the closure provides sealing, but the element is unstable in positioning and requires auxiliary elements to confine mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The unstable ball-shaped gate element is extracted and replaced with a more stable engagement mechanism. Instead of using a mobile ball that requires confinement, the invention employs the frangible strip engaged with the indicator collar to provide the sealing and blocking function. This elimination of the ball-shaped element removes the need for auxiliary confinement elements, simplifying the structure while maintaining the sealing capability through the breakable strip mechanism.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The technical solution relates to the closures for containers, essentially for bottles with elite alcohol beverages preventing refilling thereof, particularly to the closures having tamper-evident means. The closure comprises an outer cap (1) threadedly engaged with the internal screw sleeve (2), a discharge element (5) with a means for fastening on the bottleneck, a cylindrical casing (4) sealingly fixed to the discharge element (5), a threaded joint between the discharge element and the internal sleeve for the cap to be screwed on and unscrewed, a base (6) having a means for tight fastening in the bottleneck and adjoining the discharge element, aforesaid closure being additionally fit with a unit for visual control of the first opening of the bottle, providing thereby irreversible change of color of the casing once the cap has been unscrewed.