Container Closure Score Line Design for Implosion Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Easy opening containers with existing closures often experience implosion and loud noise when opened after steam or sterilization treatment, leading to consumer fright and potential spoilage, due to subatmospheric pressure inside the container, and existing solutions compromise between ease of opening and structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

A closure design with a tab attached by rivet means, featuring score line parts with increased residual thickness and stiffening elements to control the opening rate, ensuring a balanced force distribution and reduced deformation, allowing for easy opening without excessive force and minimizing implosion noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the closure area where the tab nose acts on the score line is made thinner and more flexible to facilitate easy opening, then the ease of opening is improved, but the structural integrity and resistance to internal pressure deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of openingVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The closure is designed with non-uniform thickness: the first score line part has reduced thickness (first residual thickness) to facilitate easy popping, while the second score line part maintains greater thickness (second residual thickness) to provide structural strength. This local differentiation allows each region to fulfill its specific function without compromising the overall integrity of the closure under internal pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the closure is made stiffer to withstand internal pressure, then the structural integrity is improved, but the ease of popping open deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidease of opening
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The closure incorporates localized thinning at the first score line part while maintaining adequate thickness at the second score line part. This creates a controlled weak point that pops open easily under tab force, while the thicker second score line part and surrounding closure structure maintain sufficient stiffness to withstand internal pressure from pressurized contents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the rivet means are made integral with the closure part to simplify construction, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the reliability of tab attachment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction complexityVSAvoidtab attachment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rivet means are formed as an integral part of the closure part, eliminating the need for separate rivet components and assembly steps. This merging of functions simplifies the overall construction and manufacturing process while maintaining reliable tab attachment through the integrated design of the rivet structure within the closure part itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3028952B2Closure for a container and a container provided therewith
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 IMPRESS GROUP BV
  • EP3028952B2 patent drawingFigure 1~4B
  • EP3028952B2 patent drawingFigure 5~8
  • EP3028952B2 patent drawingFigure 9~13

AI summary

The present invention relates to a closure for a container, and to a container provided with such closure, the closure comprising a tab (3) attached by rivet means (4) to a closure part (2) to be displaced for forming an opening in the closure, which opening is at least partly defined by a score line (8) formed in the closure; the tab comprising a tab body connected to the rivet means, a tab rear part for finger gripping, and a tab front part of which a tab nose is located near or at the score line; the score line comprising score line parts (8.2) separated by a score line part (8.1) to be popped by the tab nose, which score line parts are stronger than the popping score line part; and wherein stiffening means are provided for stiffening closure parts neighboring the stronger score line parts.