Container Closure Liner Abutment Prevents Product Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional container closures with metal liners, such as those containing acidic products, can cause undesirable changes like discoloration and taste alterations due to metal exposure, particularly when the liner's edges interact with the product.
Innovation Solution
A closure design featuring a retainer with a liner abutment that minimizes contact between the metal liner's internal edge and the product by positioning the abutment near the flow path, preventing the liner edge from moving into the product's path during dispensing, and using a flexible, self-sealing valve with a concave configuration that changes under pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal liner is used to seal the container opening, then the sealing performance is improved, but the liner edge contacts the acidic product causing discoloration and taste changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a non-metallic barrier layer (intermediary) between the metal liner and the acidic product. This barrier layer prevents direct contact between the metal liner edge and the product, eliminating the harmful chemical interaction that causes discoloration and taste changes, while the metal liner continues to provide effective sealing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the protective function into a new dimension by adding a coating or barrier layer on the inner surface of the metal liner. This dimensional addition creates a protective interface that separates the metal liner from the product, allowing the metal liner to maintain its sealing function without directly contacting the acidic product
2Reliability
If the liner edge is exposed to the container interior, then the sealing effectiveness is maintained, but the liner edge interacts with the product causing undesirable changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a non-reactive coating or barrier layer on the liner edge that is exposed to the container interior. This intermediary layer allows the liner edge to remain exposed for sealing purposes while preventing direct interaction between the metal liner and the product, thus eliminating harmful chemical reactions
3Device complexity
If a conventional closure design is used, then the structure is simple, but the liner edge cannot be prevented from contacting the product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the parameters of the existing closure design by adding a coating or barrier layer with specific protective properties. This parameter change (adding a protective layer) prevents liner-product contact while maintaining the overall simplicity of the closure structure, requiring minimal changes to the existing design
Data Source
AI summary
A closure 100 is provided for a container 104. The closure 100 has a base 112 for being installed at the opening of the container 104 interior and has open ends defining an access passage 148 extending between the open ends. The closure 100 has a liner 166 disposed between the closure base 112 and the container opening, and the liner 166 has an internal edge 214 defining a central hole. The closure 100 has a valve 160 for being located at the closure access passage 148. The valve 160 has (i) a closed configuration for occluding the access passage 148; and (ii) an open configuration for permitting communication through the access passage 148. The closure 100 has a retainer 170 for retaining the valve 160 at the closure access passage 148, and the retainer 170 has an outer surface with at least one liner abutment 186 extending therefrom for inhibiting contact between the liner internal edge 214 and the contents of the container 104.