Container Cap Retaining Band Structure for Small-Height Closures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing caps with small heights face issues with connecting bands breaking or being insufficiently deformable, leading to the closing element separating from the container and potentially being discarded separately, which is environmentally undesirable.
Innovation Solution
The cap design includes a separating line and incision line positioned in a first portion without threads, ensuring a connecting band with sufficient height and deformability, stably connecting the closing element to the retaining ring, even in small caps, by maintaining a ratio of threadless to threaded portions that allows for sturdy and deformable bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the cap height is reduced to make small caps, then the cap size is reduced, but the connecting band becomes insufficiently deformable and may break
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral wall is divided into two distinct portions: a first portion without threads and a second portion with threads. This segmentation allows the connecting band to be positioned exclusively in the threadless first portion, ensuring sufficient height and deformability even in small caps, while the threaded second portion provides the necessary engagement length.
2Strength
If the connecting band is made sturdier to prevent breaking, then the connecting band strength is improved, but the cap height increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the lateral wall into threadless and threaded portions, the design allows the connecting band to utilize the full height of the first portion for strength and deformability, while the second portion contributes to the overall cap height through its threaded engagement length, optimizing the height-strength ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution shifts the problem from a single-dimensional height constraint to a two-dimensional distribution of functions along the lateral wall. The first portion dedicates its entire height to supporting the connecting band, while the second portion provides threaded engagement, allowing small caps to have sufficiently strong connecting bands without proportionally increasing overall height.
3Ease of manufacture
If the separating line and incision line are positioned in the threaded portion, then the connecting band can be made, but the thread engagement is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral wall is clearly segmented into a first portion without threads and a second portion with threads. The separating line and incision line are positioned exclusively in the first threadless portion, ensuring that the connecting band formation does not interfere with the thread engagement in the second portion, thus maintaining both manufacturability and reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The closing cap for a container comprises a lateral wall extending around an axis and a transversal wall positioned at one end of the lateral wall. A separating line is provided on the lateral wall to define a retaining ring, which comprises a retaining portion which extends as far as a free edge of the retaining ring and is configured to internally engage with a locking ring of a neck of the container in such a way as to remain anchored to the neck, and a closing element which can removably engage with the neck, so as to open or close the container. The cap additionally comprises an incision line also provided on the lateral wall to define, together with the separating line, at least one connecting band for connecting the closing element and the retaining portion to each other. The cap comprises: a coupling structure positioned inside the lateral wall for removably coupling the closing element to the neck of the container, the lateral wall having a first portion, without the coupling structure and on which the separating line and the incision line are made, which has a first height measured along an axis parallel to the axis starting from the free edge, and a second portion provided with the coupling structure, which has a second height measured along an axis parallel to the axis starting from the transversal wall. The ratio between the second height and the first height is less than or equal to 2.00 so that the connecting band can be made in the first portion with suitable dimensions.