Plastic Container Head Piece Multi-Curvature Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Plastic containers produced by the blow molding, filling, and sealing method for medicinal use face issues with leakage due to the deformation of the head membrane during piercing, especially when using less sharp spikes or thick cannulas, leading to safety concerns and inefficiencies in handling and sealing.

Innovation Solution

The container features a head piece with multiple types of head surfaces, each with a specific curvature, transitioning into each other to form an overall surface that provides increased resistance to bending and penetration, allowing for safe handling with less sharp spikes and thick cannulas, and optimized cap sealing with smaller elastomer elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a uniform head membrane with standard curvature is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the resistance to bending and puncturing is insufficient, causing leakage when using less sharp spikes or thick cannulas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to bending and puncturingVSAvoidhead piece structure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The head piece is designed with multiple head surfaces (first, second, and third types) that have different curvatures and mechanical properties in different regions. The first head surface has a first curvature, the second head surface has a second curvature different from the first, and the third head surface has a third curvature. This local differentiation allows each region to be optimized for specific functions: some regions provide higher resistance to bending and puncturing, while others facilitate easier penetration when needed, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If less sharp spikes are used to reduce injury risk, then user safety is improved, but the head membrane deforms during piercing, causing leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinjury risk to usersVSAvoidsealing integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the head piece by introducing multiple head surfaces with different curvatures. The first head surface has a first curvature optimized for initial penetration, the second head surface has a second curvature that provides resistance to deformation, and the third head surface has a third curvature that maintains sealing integrity. This parameter variation allows the use of less sharp spikes (reducing injury risk) while preventing head membrane deformation and leakage through the enhanced structural resistance provided by the multi-curvature design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple punctures are made in the head piece for removal operations or component transfer, then functionality is improved, but leakages occur due to head membrane deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer functionalityVSAvoidsealing integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The head piece is segmented into multiple distinct head surfaces (first, second, and third types) with different curvatures and functional characteristics. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different purposes: some regions are optimized for initial access, others for multiple punctures, and others for maintaining sealing integrity. The segmented structure with varied curvatures distributes the mechanical stresses from multiple punctures across different regions, preventing the kind of cumulative deformation that would lead to leakage, thereby enabling enhanced functionality while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11046474B2Container having a head piece, which container can be or is filled with a medium
Publication Date: 2021.06.29 ROMMELAG ENGINEERING GMBH DE
  • US11046474B2 patent drawing
  • US11046474B2 patent drawing
  • US11046474B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A container has a head piece (7). The container can be or is filled with a medium and is produced of plastic materials using a blow molding, filling, and sealing method. A transition region (13) is between the container (1) and a first type of a head surface (11) arranged on the head piece (7) at an end face, can be penetrated by a piercing or cutting part and extends with a specifiable curvature. A second type of a head surface (41) has a specifiable curvature, which is the same as the curvature of the head surface (39) of the first type, but preferably is different from it and is present on the head piece (7). The head surfaces transition into each other such that a whole surface is formed, which whole surface spans the free end of the transition region (13) directed away from the container (1). The head piece (7) is an integral component of the container (1).