Pressure-Activated Container Seal for Controlled Content Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers with annular seals along the entire flanged face require high internal pressure for unsealing, leading to unpredictable and incomplete discharge of contents, as the detachment point is not fixed, resulting in residual contents remaining in the container.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a reverse-oriented annular seal portion that detaches first, accompanied by an auxiliary seal portion and non-detaching seal portions, ensuring controlled and predictable discharge by forming a stable outflow channel, and preventing unintended detachment during handling or pressure changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing is provided along the flanged face over the entire width direction, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the inside pressure required for unsealing becomes too high
Solution Approach 1:
The annular seal portion is segmented into multiple regions: a first annular seal portion at the radially outer edge providing strong sealing, a second annular seal portion at the radially inner edge with lower sealing strength that detaches first, and a third annular seal portion in the middle. This segmentation allows the sealing to maintain high reliability through the outer portions while enabling unsealing at lower pressure through the intermediate inner portion.
2Ease of operation
If a sharp projecting portion is provided as an exfoliation guiding portion, then the detachment initiation is attempted to be controlled, but the detachment start position remains unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the annular seal are given different sealing strengths through local quality variations. The second annular seal portion at the radially inner edge is designed with lower sealing strength compared to the first annular seal portion at the outer edge, ensuring that detachment consistently initiates at the predetermined radially inner position rather than at unpredictable locations.
3Strength
If the annular seal portion detaches under high pressure, then the sealing strength is maintained, but the amount of contents remaining in the container cannot be sufficiently reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented annular seal structure enables complete detachment of the lid member from the container body. The first annular seal portion detaches first under pressure, followed by the second and third portions, creating a complete discharge path that allows all contents to be expelled from the container, significantly reducing residual contents.
4Stress or pressure
If the sealing area is reduced to lower unsealing pressure, then the unsealing becomes easier, but the sealing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The annular seal is divided into multiple functional segments with different sealing strengths. The first annular seal portion at the radially outer edge maintains high sealing reliability with a larger sealing area, while the second annular seal portion at the radially inner edge has a smaller sealing area and lower sealing strength, enabling it to detach at lower pressures to initiate the unsealing process.
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 container ensures reliable and complete discharge of contents by fixing the detachment point and maintaining the sealed state, reducing residual contents and stabilizing the discharge direction, while resisting external forces during handling and storage.
Implementation Method 1
detached in response to increase of pressure inside the container body associated with deformation of the container body
Implementation Method 2
deformation of the container body resulting from application of an external force to a bottom face of the container body
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a container that allows a portion where detachment starts to be fixed at a specified position in a more reliable manner, thus allowing contents to be discharged in a direction expected by a user, allowing eventually reduction in the amount of contents to remain in the container in the end. The container includes a container body holding contents therein and a lid member, the container body and the lid member being sealed by an annular seal portion formed along a flanged face of the opening. There is provided a detaching seal portion which is detached in response to increase of pressure inside the container body associated with deformation of the container body. The detaching seal portion includes a reverse-oriented annular seal portion which occupies a part of a width of the flanged face and which projects toward a radial inner side of the opening.