Container Seal Venting Mechanism for Carbonation Over-Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing carbonated beverage containers, whether disposable or reusable, face challenges in managing pressure buildup during carbonation, leading to potential damage or leakage, and lack the flexibility for easy cleaning and ice addition.

Innovation Solution

A multi-piece beverage container design with a vessel and lid interface featuring a circumferential rim separated by a gap, an annular gasket, and a venting zone that allows controlled pressure relief through a movable gasket portion to vent excess pressure, maintaining structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a single-piece bottle configuration is used, then the container can withstand carbonation pressure, but the bottle cannot be easily cleaned or have ice added

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidpressure resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bottle is divided into multiple separable pieces (vessel body, lid, gasket components) that can be detached for thorough cleaning and ice addition, while maintaining the ability to withstand carbonation pressure when assembled with proper sealing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a multi-piece bottle configuration is used, then the bottle allows easy cleaning and ice addition, but the bottle cannot withstand carbonation pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidpressure containment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bottle is divided into multiple separable pieces (vessel body, lid, gasket components) that can be detached for thorough cleaning and ice addition, while maintaining the ability to withstand carbonation pressure when assembled with proper sealing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An over-pressure vent mechanism is pre-configured in the lid assembly that automatically activates when internal pressure exceeds safe thresholds, preventing catastrophic failure and providing a safety buffer against pressure buildup during carbonation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Device complexity

If no over-pressure vent mechanism is used, then the container maintains simple structure, but excessive pressure buildup causes damage or leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidpressure damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The over-pressure vent mechanism is designed to automatically activate based on pressure conditions without external control, using the pressure differential itself to open the vent and relieve excess pressure, thereby protecting the container from damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

An over-pressure vent mechanism is pre-configured in the lid assembly that automatically activates when internal pressure exceeds safe thresholds, preventing catastrophic failure and providing a safety buffer against pressure buildup during carbonation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 design effectively manages pressure within the container, preventing damage by venting excess pressure safely and maintaining container integrity while allowing easy cleaning and ice addition.

Implementation Method 1

In response to the internal reservoir of the vessel reaching a threshold pressure, a portion of the gasket moves from the sealing position through the gap such that fluid (e.g., gas or liquid) held in the reservoir is vented through the gap to reduce the pressure of the reservoir

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4240991B1Container seal over-pressure vent mechanism
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 PEPSICO INC
  • EP4240991B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4240991B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4240991B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A container assembly includes a vessel and a lid removably coupled to the vessel. The lid includes a circumferential rim at an interface with the vessel, wherein the rim is separated from the vessel by a gap, wherein the gap is open to the atmosphere outside the container. The container includes a gasket disposed at a sealing position between the lid and the vessel to seal a reservoir of the vessel from the gap. The rim includes a recess extending circumferentially along a first portion of the rim. The recess forms a portion of the gap and defines a venting zone extending circumferentially along the first portion of the rim. In response to the internal reservoir of the vessel reaching a threshold pressure, a portion of the gasket moves from the sealing position through the gap such that fluid held in the reservoir is vented past the gasket through the venting zone to reduce the pressure of the reservoir.