Closure With Vent Apertures For Overmolding Flashing Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing removable closures, particularly those made from plastic materials, face challenges in providing a comfortable grip interface while minimizing manufacturing defects such as flashing during the overmolding process.

Innovation Solution

The closure features a rigid lid with a soft skin layer made from materials like polypropylene or polyethylene, overmolded with vent apertures to receive gases and excess skin layer materials, ensuring a comfortable grip and minimizing flashing by allowing gases and excess material to escape during the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a soft skin layer is overmolded onto the lid to provide a comfortable grip interface, then the ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing defects such as flashing occur during the overmolding process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrip comfortVSAvoidflashing defect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates vent apertures into the rigid lid structure before the overmolding process begins. These vent apertures are pre-positioned to allow gases and excess skin layer material to escape during overmolding, preventing flashing defects while enabling the soft grip interface to be formed successfully.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The vent apertures act as an intermediary mechanism between the molding cavity and the external environment. They provide a controlled pathway for gas and excess material to escape, mediating between the conflicting requirements of forming a complete soft grip interface and preventing flashing defects during the overmolding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If vent apertures are incorporated into the lid to minimize flashing during overmolding, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the structural integrity of the lid may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflashing reductionVSAvoidlid structural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The vent apertures are strategically positioned in specific locations on the rigid lid where they can effectively vent gases and excess material during overmolding while minimizing impact on the overall structural integrity. The apertures are designed with appropriate size and distribution to provide venting functionality without creating weak points that would compromise the lid's strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3774566B1closure
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 BERRY GLOBAL INC
  • EP3774566B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3774566B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3774566B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A canister includes a closure configured to mount on a container to close an open mouth into a product storage region formed in the container. The closure includes a lid and an outer layer coupled to the lid.