Container and closure element insertable into a container opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing closure elements for containers, used in dispensers, require dedicated piston seals and are not optimized for efficient dispensing of concentrated or diluted flowable media, as they allow air ingress and lack material compatibility with the media.

Innovation Solution

A closure element with a cylinder and piston where the piston diameter is larger than the cylinder, allowing the cylinder wall to elastically expand and seal, eliminating the need for a dedicated piston seal, and incorporating a return spring for automatic retraction, with peripheral ridges controlling medium and air flow paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a piston seal (O-ring) is used in the closure element, then sealing integrity is achieved, but device complexity and material compatibility issues arise due to requiring multiple inert materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing integrityVSAvoidclosure element structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the dedicated piston seal (O-ring) from the closure element structure. Instead of having a separate sealing component, the system uses the elastic expansion of the cylinder wall itself to create the sealing action, thereby simplifying the device and eliminating material compatibility issues between seal and piston materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the cylinder wall from rigid to elastically expandable. By making the cylinder wall capable of elastic expansion, it can dynamically adjust its diameter to seal against the piston periphery, replacing the need for a separate elastomeric seal while maintaining reliable sealing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the container is made stiff and non-compressible, then structural strength is improved, but air ingress occurs during piston actuation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer structural strengthVSAvoidair ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic elasticity to specific regions of the otherwise stiff container. The elastically expandable region allows controlled deformation during piston actuation to accommodate air displacement, while the rest of the container maintains its stiff, non-compressible structure for strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If dedicated piston seals and multiple materials are used, then sealing is achieved, but manufacturing cost and material compatibility complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing functionVSAvoidmaterial selection and assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sealing function into the cylinder wall structure itself. The cylinder wall serves both as the structural component and as the sealing element through its elastic expansion capability, eliminating the need for separate seal components and reducing material compatibility requirements to a single chemically resistant material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastically expandable cylinder wall performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, creates the sealing interface with the piston, and accommodates dimensional changes during operation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized seal materials and simplifies manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables efficient dispensing of media without dedicated seals, using chemically resistant materials like polyethylene or polypropylene, ensuring sealing integrity and reducing material costs while allowing controlled air ingress during discharge.

Implementation Method 1

the cylinder is adapted to be elastically expandable at least in a region corresponding to a displacement length of the piston

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

provide a return spring in the closure element which urges the piston into the starting position forming the closed position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS10988367B2Container and closure element insertable into a container opening

Publication Date: 2021.04.27 HAGLEITNER HANS GEORG

AI summary

A closure element to be inserted into a container opening includes a cylinder having at least one lateral opening and a piston displaceable and sealed in the cylinder. In a starting position, the piston prevents the discharge of a flowable medium out of the container. The piston diameter is larger than the cylinder diameter and the cylinder is adapted to be elastically expandable at least in a region corresponding to a displacement length of the piston. A container which is filled with a flowable medium and which is provided with a closure element is also provided.