Container Overcap with Sealed Inner Skirt for Reusable Medical Vials
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing self-sealing closure systems for containers used in administering medications to farm animals deteriorate over time, leading to compromised sealing and potential contamination of the contents, which affects the safety and effectiveness of the injectable compositions.
Innovation Solution
A simple and economical overcapping device with a main body and cover assembly that securely fixes onto the container neck, featuring a cylindrical design with a hinged cover and internal skirt for enhanced sealing, capable of compressing against the self-sealing plug to form a waterproof barrier, and optionally incorporating antiseptic agents or RFID tags.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a self-sealing closure element is used to close the container opening, then the sealing capability is improved, but the reliability deteriorates over time due to repetitive needle insertion and withdrawal
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is divided into two independent parts: the original self-sealing closure element (which may deteriorate) and the overcap (which provides fresh sealing surfaces). This segmentation allows the overcap to compensate for the wear of the original closure element, maintaining reliable sealing throughout the service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The overcap is installed beforehand to provide an additional sealing layer that compensates for the inevitable deterioration of the self-sealing closure element over time. This prior protective measure ensures that even when the original closure element fails, the overcap maintains the seal integrity.
2Productivity
If the self-sealing closure element is used repeatedly, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability worsens due to deterioration of sealing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the closure system into the original closure element and the overcap, the invention allows repeated use of the container while maintaining reliability. The overcap provides fresh sealing surfaces that do not deteriorate with repeated needle insertions, thus enabling continuous productive use without compromising sealing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The overcap acts as a disposable protective element that is installed once and remains effective throughout the service life of the container. This approach sacrifices the overcap (a simple, inexpensive component) to protect the valuable injectable contents from contamination, allowing the main container to be reused multiple times.
3Reliability
If a metal cap and self-sealing closure element assembly is used, then the sealing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The overcap utilizes a flexible membrane base that can be easily formed and bent to create the necessary sealing structures. This flexible shell approach simplifies the overall device complexity compared to rigid metal constructions, while still providing effective sealing through the flexible membrane's ability to conform to the closure element.
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 overcapping device effectively maintains the integrity and safety of the container contents by ensuring a reliable seal, preventing contamination and ensuring compliance with animal welfare standards.
Implementation Method 1
holding means configured to press the free end of the inner skirt against the closing device in the closed position of the cover so as to form a sealed barrier
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to an outer cap device for a container having a neck, the opening of which is closed off by a closure device comprising a region (13) to be safeguarded. According to the invention, this outer cap device comprises: - a main body (14) intended to be fastened to the neck of the container, this main body (14) comprising an upper wall (18) having an opening intended to be positioned next to this region (13) to be safeguarded when the main body (14) is fastened to the neck of this container so as to leave said region (13) to be safeguarded freely accessible, - a cover (16) comprising an internal face (22) and an inner skirt (23) extending from this internal face (22), the internal face (22) being closed in line with this inner skirt (23), this inner skirt (23) being designed to pass through the opening in the upper wall (18) of the main body (14) and surround the region (13) to be safeguarded when the cover (16) is in the closed position, - holding means for locking the cover (16) in the closed position and allowing it to be unlocked to pass into the open position, these holding means being configured to press the free end of the inner skirt (23) against the closure device in the closed position of the cover (16) so as to form a sealed barrier surrounding the region (13) to be safeguarded, in order to limit exchanges from this region (13) to be safeguarded with the single interior volume of the inner skirt (23).