Container Cap with Segmented Ring for Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional container caps become detached and are easily lost, soiled, or misplaced when opened, leading to environmental pollution due to complex designs and difficult manipulation required to return them to a closed state.

Innovation Solution

A cap design featuring a main body and a ring member connected by incision lines with connecting pins and portions, allowing the cap to remain attached to the container in an open state without requiring complex structures or additional barriers, using injection molding or other manufacturing processes to form the incision lines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional caps are completely separated from containers when opened, then the cap can be easily removed, but the cap becomes easily lost, soiled, or misplaced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of removalVSAvoidretention of cap
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is divided into a main body and a ring member that can be separated from each other. The main body can be completely removed from the container for easy operation, while the ring member remains on the container to prevent loss. This segmentation allows the cap to provide both ease of removal and retention functionality simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If complex connecting structures are used to keep caps attached, then the cap remains connected to the container, but the design becomes complicated and requires difficult manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection between cap and containerVSAvoidcomplexity of connecting structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential retaining function from the cap by separating the ring member (which provides retention) from the main body (which provides sealing and user interaction). This extraction simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the connection functionality, eliminating the need for complex connecting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the entire cap remain attached through complex structures, the invention inverts the approach by having only a simple ring member remain on the container while the main body is completely removable. This inversion simplifies the connecting structure while achieving the same retention effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If complex structures are used to maintain cap attachment, then the cap remains connected, but manufacturing becomes complex or expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment retentionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is segmented into two simple components: a main body and a ring member. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using standard, cost-effective processes, avoiding the need for complex integrated structures that would increase manufacturing difficulty and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ring member is formed as an integrated part of the cap's main body through a single injection molding process, creating the connection structure without requiring additional assembly steps or complex manufacturing operations. This merging of functions into a single molding step simplifies manufacturing while maintaining attachment reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3820782B1Cap for container
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 THISCAP INC
  • EP3820782B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3820782B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3820782B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2D

AI summary

A cap for a container is formed so that the cap has a top plate and a circular sidewall. Two opposite sides of the circular sidewall circularly connect to each other, one periphery of the circular sidewall connecting to one surface of the top plate forming a closed end, and another periphery of the circular sidewall at an opposite side of the closed end forms an opened end. Incisions are in the circular sidewall. The incisions form a ring member located at the opened end of the cap separated from a main body of the cap by a first incision and a second incision between the opened end of the main body and the ring member.