Closure Spout Thicker Band for Directional Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Container closure assemblies with existing spouts lack the ability to efficiently direct the flow of contents for directional dispensing, leading to suboptimal flow rates and potential overlap of venting ears, which can hinder smooth and fast dispensing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a thicker material section, or 'memory band,' in the spout's wall structure allows for deflection and maintenance of a selected orientation, enhancing directional control and reducing venting ear overlap by using a combination of design features such as invertible folds and strategically placed thicker bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spout is made flexible to allow directional dispensing, then the ability to direct flow is improved, but the spout cannot maintain a selected orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The spout incorporates a thicker band portion at a specific location along its length, creating a localized region with different mechanical properties. This thicker band acts as a memory structure that provides directional stability, while the rest of the spout remains flexible enough to allow bending and directional dispensing. The localized thickening resolves the contradiction by providing stability only where needed while maintaining flexibility elsewhere.
2Productivity
If venting ears are made wider to improve venting capacity, then air flow is improved, but adjacent ears overlap when spout is deflected
Solution Approach 1:
The thicker band portion is strategically positioned to control the deflection behavior of the spout relative to the venting ears. This localized structural feature ensures that when the spout is bent, the venting ears maintain their spatial separation and do not overlap, while still allowing sufficient deflection for directional dispensing. The thicker band creates a predictable deflection pattern that prevents ear overlap.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the spout wall thickness is increased to maintain orientation, then directional control is improved, but the spout becomes less flexible
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing wall thickness throughout the spout, the invention applies thicker material only in a specific band portion. This localized thickening provides the necessary structural support for maintaining orientation and directional control, while the thinner sections of the spout retain their flexibility and ability to bend for directional dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout is effectively segmented into different structural zones: a thicker band portion that provides structural stability and orientation maintenance, and thinner portions that provide flexibility. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the overall spout performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables smoother and faster dispensing by controlling the orientation of the spout and venting ears, reducing overlap and improving flow efficiency, while maintaining directional control during dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
the spout can be deflected and set in a desired direction... the addition of at least one thicker section of material as part of the extendable spout that functions as a 'memory band' structure. This structure allows the extended spout to be flexed or bent in a desired direction and then stay in that selected orientation
Data Source
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Figure 6~7
AI summary
A closure assembly (20) for a container, the container including a raised outlet (27) defining a dispensing opening, includes a closure body (22) having a nestable and extendable spout formed with a generally cylindrical section (53), a frustoconical section (54), and a transitioning region, including an invertible fold (48), located between these two sections so as to enable the closure body to be either nested or extended. The generally cylindrical section defines an outlet opening and a threaded closing cap (23) is assembled to the generally cylindrical section for closing off the outlet opening. A retainer (24) is used for connecting the closure body to the raised outlet wall and the frustoconical section includes a thicker wall portion for enabling the spout to maintain a selected orientation upon deflection into the selected orientation in order to provide directional discharge of the container contents.