Composite Stopper With Mechanical Anchoring Edge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing composite stoppers for wide-necked containers, especially those made of deformable materials, face challenges in maintaining tightness and cohesion due to the difficulty in compressing the cork stopper through the neck, leading to imperfect sealing and increased manufacturing time.
Innovation Solution
A composite stopper design featuring a cylindrical cork element with a circular anchoring edge that anchors into the insulation element, allowing for immediate separation without needing to maintain the elements together during glue setting, reducing manufacturing time while ensuring cohesion through a triangular cross-section circular edge and conical surface for secure anchoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the insulation element is held against the closure part during glue setting time, then good bond and perfect cohesion are obtained, but manufacturing time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The circular anchoring edge is designed to perform the anchoring function in advance, so that when the insulation element is placed on the closure part, the mechanical anchoring immediately prevents separation without requiring prolonged glue setting time. The anchoring action is prepared in advance through the specific geometric design of the circular edge that penetrates the closure part.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely chemical bonding mechanism (glue setting) with a mechanical anchoring system. The circular anchoring edge physically penetrates and anchors into the closure part, providing mechanical interlocking that supersedes the need for extended chemical bonding time, thereby reducing manufacturing time while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If the cork stopper is compressed through the neck of the container, then tightness is obtained, but this is difficult with deformable container materials and wide necks
Solution Approach 1:
The closure part of the stopper is designed with differentiated local properties: the cylindrical part has a smaller diameter to facilitate easy insertion through wide necks, while the gripping part has a larger diameter for manual handling. The circular anchoring edge provides localized mechanical anchoring capability at the interface between the insulation element and closure part, ensuring tightness without requiring compression of the entire stopper through the container neck.
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 design reduces manufacturing time and ensures a cohesive seal by eliminating the need for post-assembly glue setting time, maintaining the stopper's adjustment and preventing separation over time, while also providing a cost-effective solution.
Implementation Method 1
said circular anchoring edge is anchored in said cylindrical part of said cylindrical cork element when said insulation element comes to cover said cylindrical part
Implementation Method 2
After the glue has been deposited on the cylindrical part, and that the cylindrical part has been force-fitted inside the insulation element
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a composite stopper (10) for plugging containers. The stopper comprises a cylindrical cork element (12) having a shoulder (14) defining a cylindrical portion (16) and a bearing surface (38), and an insulation element (20) having a base (19) and a cylindrical rim (22) defining an internal space (21), said cylindrical rim having a free edge (24). The insulation element (20) caps the cylindrical portion (16) of the cylindrical cork element, while the free edge (24) is applied against the bearing surface. The cylindrical rim (22) includes a circular anchoring edge (28) which extends inside the internal space (21) and is anchored in the cylindrical portion (16) of the cylindrical cork element (12).