Closure With Ridges And Knurls For Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plastic closures for containers are difficult to remove and require substantial retooling of capping equipment when replacing conventional designs, leading to increased costs and weight.
Innovation Solution
A closure design featuring a top panel with a skirt and raised ridges, knurls, and a ring-like structure with protrusions, allowing for easier removal and interchangeability with existing capping equipment without retooling, utilizing a serrated capping chuck for secure application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional plastic closure designs are used, then the closure provides adequate sealing and structural integrity, but the closure is difficult to remove and requires substantial retooling of capping equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The closure outer surface is segmented into multiple raised ridges with knurls, creating distinct gripping zones that facilitate easier manual removal. The ridges divide the surface into functional segments that provide both structural integrity and improved user grip without requiring equipment retooling
Solution Approach 2:
The closure design maintains universal compatibility with existing capping equipment while simultaneously providing improved ease of removal through the ridge and knurl features. The multi-functional design allows the same closure structure to serve both machine application and manual opening purposes effectively
2Weight of moving object
If conventional closure designs are used, then the closure provides sufficient structural integrity, but the closure weight is substantial
Solution Approach 1:
The raised ridges and knurls incorporate curved surfaces that provide structural strength through geometric optimization. The curved features distribute stress more effectively than flat surfaces, maintaining structural integrity while using less material and reducing overall closure weight
Solution Approach 2:
The closure employs local quality enhancement by adding ridges and knurls only in specific regions where gripping and structural reinforcement are needed, rather than uniformly thickening the entire closure. This localized approach maintains strength where required while minimizing overall material usage and weight
3Ease of operation
If conventional closure designs are used, then the closure can be manufactured with standard equipment, but the closure lacks improved ergonomic grip
Solution Approach 1:
The ergonomic grip features (ridges and knurls) are preliminary-formed during the injection molding process itself, rather than requiring secondary operations. The mold cavity includes the ridge and knurl geometry, so the features are created in the same manufacturing step as the closure body, maintaining ease of manufacture while providing improved ergonomic grip
Data Source
AI summary
A closure includes a top panel and a corner section connecting an outer periphery of the top panel with a downwardly extending annular skirt. A plurality of gently curved ridges are spaced about the outer perimeter of the closure. The ridges generally extend from a lower portion of the skirt and around the corner section, with the upper ends of the ridges terminating proximate the top panel outer periphery. A plurality of knurls extend radially outwards from the midpoints of the ridges along the skirt of the closure. The configuration, arrangement, and spacing of the ridges and knurls about the closure provide an enhanced grip and feel, allowing for easier twist-off of the closure from a container. The closure may be used interchangeably with existing capping chucks used to apply conventional closures without requiring any modification to the capping chucks to apply the closures to containers during a capping process.