Frustoconical Container Closure Seals for Pressure-Responsive Splash Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container closures fail to effectively prevent splashing or sputtering of hot beverages due to steam pressure buildup and do not maintain beverage temperature efficiently, while also being difficult to clean.
Innovation Solution
A container closure with a base member, cover member, and gasket that includes frustoconical seal members to flex outwardly and engage with the cover member in response to pressure increases, featuring drinking and venting openings and apertures for controlled fluid communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional closure design is used, then the structure is simple, but steam pressure builds up causing splashing and sputtering of hot beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into separate functional components: a base member with drinking and venting openings, a cover member with corresponding apertures, and a gasket with seal members. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while working together to prevent splashing and manage pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket acts as an intermediary element between the base member and cover member, providing sealing functionality. The frustoconical seal members within the gasket flex outwardly to engage with the cover member, creating a pressure-responsive seal that prevents splashing while allowing controlled venting.
2Temperature
If a conventional closure design is used, then manufacturing is simple, but beverage temperature is not maintained effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is made of flexible material that can deform under pressure to maintain sealing. The frustoconical seal members flex outwardly in response to pressure increases, ensuring continuous sealing that maintains beverage temperature while allowing the structure to be manufactured using standard molding techniques.
3Ease of operation
If a conventional closure design is used, then the structure is simple, but cleanability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is segmented into removable components (base member, cover member, gasket) that can be easily separated for cleaning. Each component has smooth surfaces and rounded features that facilitate cleaning, while the modular structure allows disassembly to access hard-to-reach areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The frustoconical seal members are designed to flex dynamically in response to pressure changes, providing an adaptive seal that maintains effectiveness during use and allows for easy cleaning by returning to their original position after deformation.
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
The solution reduces splashing and maintains beverage temperature by managing pressure, while allowing easy cleaning and maintaining temperature.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the first seal member and the second seal member is substantially frustoconical shaped and is adapted to flex outwardly into engagement with the cover member in response to an increase in pressure within the associated container
Data Source
AI summary
A container closure includes a base member, a cover member and a gasket. The base member is configured for attachment to an associated liquid container and includes abase wall having drinking and venting openings. The cover member is removably connected to the base member and includes a cover wall having drinking and venting apertures in selective registry with the respective drinking and venting openings. The gasket is interposed between the base member and the cover member and has an upper surface facing the cover member. The upper surface integrally defines a first seal member surrounding the drinking aperture and a second seal member surrounding the venting aperture. Each of the first seal member and the second seal member is substantially frustoconical shaped and is adapted to flex outwardly into engagement with the cover member in response to an increase in pressure within the associated container.