Container Closure With Segmented Flap And Transition Region
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container closures face issues with deformation under varying forces, leading to inconsistent operation and leakage when used with different receptacles, as they may be forced into a domed shape, limiting their effectiveness and causing 'sifting' or leakage of contents.
Innovation Solution
A closure design featuring a body portion with a cylindrical skirt and a top portion having shaker and spoon flaps, with a sealing structure and transition region to resist deformation, ensuring consistent operation and minimizing leakage across various receptacle sizes and types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a closure is designed to fit various receptacles with different manufacturers and tolerances, then adaptability is improved, but the closure may be forced into a domed shape causing inconsistent operation
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into a body portion and a top portion that can move relative to each other. The top portion can tilt independently to accommodate variations in receptacle geometry, while the body portion maintains the sealing function. This segmentation allows the closure to adapt to different receptacles without compromising operational consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure incorporates dynamic elements including a movable top portion that can tilt and flex membranes that can deform elastically. These dynamic features allow the closure to adjust to varying forces and geometries applied by different receptacles, maintaining reliable operation across diverse applications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the closure end wall is forced into a domed shape by receptacle forces, then adaptability to different receptacles is improved, but flap operation is adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The closure separates the force-bearing end wall from the flap-holding top portion through a hinge mechanism. This allows the end wall to deform into a domed shape to accommodate different receptacles while the top portion remains relatively stable, ensuring proper flap operation is maintained despite end wall deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure uses flexible membranes and thin-walled structures that can elastically deform to absorb doming forces. These flexible elements allow the end wall to adapt to different receptacle shapes while the hinge mechanism protects the flap operation from adverse effects of the deformation.
3Reliability
If the closure structure is made more rigid to prevent doming, then consistent operation is improved, but adaptability to different receptacles is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The closure divides rigid and flexible functions into separate components. The body portion maintains sufficient rigidity for consistent sealing operation, while the top portion and hinge mechanism provide the flexibility needed to adapt to different receptacles. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the closure have different mechanical properties tailored to their specific functions. The end wall and sealing surfaces are made more rigid for consistent operation, while the top portion and hinge areas are made more flexible for adaptability. This local differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A closure for a container is disclosed having a body, a top portion, and a transition region. The body has a cylindrical skirt and an end wall. The cylindrical skirt has a first end coupled to the end wall and a second open end configured to receive a receptacle. The top portion is coupled to the end wall of the body portion and has a flap movable from a closed position where the opening is covered to an open position where the opening is at least partially uncovered. The transition region has an exposed surface and is located at a juncture between the end wall and the side wall. The exposed surface extends from a first point on the end wall radially inward from the skirt to a second point on the skirt below the end wall and below the first point.