Closure Tab Abutment Mechanism for Liquid Package Leak Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packages of liquids often experience thread back-off during transport due to vibrations and impacts, leading to unintentional opening and potential leakage.
Innovation Solution
A package design featuring a closure system with a threaded collar, peripheral wall, and a tab connected by deformable arms, which engages with an abutment to resist backing off and ensure secure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a threaded closure is used to close a container, then the closure can be easily engaged and disengaged, but the threads may back off during transport due to vibrations and impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing a tab that abuts against an abutment on the container before transport vibrations can cause the threads to back off. This preventive mechanical stop counteracts the harmful back-off motion that vibrations and impacts would otherwise cause, maintaining the sealing engagement without interfering with the ease of threaded engagement and disengagement.
2Ease of operation
If the closure threads back off from the sealing position, then the closure can be unintentionally opened, but this creates a security problem
Solution Approach 1:
The tab-abutment mechanism provides preliminary anti-action by physically preventing the closure from rotating off the container during transport. The tab abuts against the abutment to maintain the closure in its sealed position, eliminating the condition that would allow unintentional opening while preserving the user's ability to intentionally open the package by overcoming the tab-abutment engagement.
3Reliability
If the closure threads back off, then the package may leak when tipped or inverted, but adding restraint mechanisms may increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the restraint function with the existing closure structure by integrating the tab into the closure body and the abutment into the container. This combination approach provides leak prevention during transport without adding separate, complex restraint mechanisms, as the tab-abutment interface works in conjunction with the existing threaded closure system.
4Reliability
If a tab connected by deformable arms is added to prevent backing off, then the closure becomes more secure, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible arms to connect the tab to the closure body. These deformable arms provide flexibility and compliance, allowing the tab to engage with the abutment while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations. The flexible arm structure maintains closure security through the tab-abutment engagement without requiring a rigid, complex mechanical linkage system.
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
The closure system effectively prevents unintentional opening and leakage by securely engaging the tab with the abutment, maintaining the package's integrity during transport.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable first arm (70) extending from a first arm attachment location (80) on said peripheral wall to said tab and deformable second arm (90) extending from a second arm attachment location (100) on said peripheral wall to said tab
Data Source
AI summary
A package including a closure engaged with a container. The closure has one or more tabs that abut one or more abutments. The tabs can be displaced towards the longitudinal axis and the closure can be rotated in the disengagement direction to dislodge the closure from the container.