Container Venting Assembly for Off-Gassing Product Packaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for packaging fluent products that off-gas face pressure buildup issues, leading to potential swelling, distortion, or rupture, especially when exposed to temperature and altitude fluctuations, and existing solutions like selective barrier materials lose gas-permeability upon contact with liquid products, reducing venting capacity.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a removable lid with a venting assembly that includes a hollow venting tube and a resilient flexible liner, allowing for automatic adjustment between closed and venting positions in response to pressure changes, ensuring gas release without product leakage, regardless of container orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If selective barrier materials (gas-permeable membranes or microchannels) are used to vent gas from the container, then gas permeability is improved, but the materials lose their gas-permeability upon contact with liquid product, reducing venting capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The venting assembly is divided into separate functional components: a resilient closure member that can move between closed and open positions, and a venting tube with apertures. This segmentation allows the system to switch between sealed and venting states without the venting pathways being permanently exposed to or blocked by liquid product.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure member is designed to be resilient and movable, dynamically transitioning between a closed position (sealing the container) and an open position (allowing gas venting). This dynamic behavior ensures that liquid product does not continuously contact the venting apertures, maintaining their gas-permeability over time.
2Reliability
If the container uses a closed sealing system to retain liquid product, then product containment is improved, but pressure build-up from off-gassing causes swelling, distortion or rupture
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient closure member acts as a pressure-sensitive feedback mechanism. When internal pressure exceeds a certain threshold, the closure member automatically moves to the open position to relieve pressure. When pressure normalizes, it returns to the closed position, creating a self-regulating system that maintains containment while preventing dangerous pressure build-up.
Solution Approach 2:
The venting assembly is self-activating based on internal pressure conditions. The resilient closure member automatically responds to pressure changes without external intervention, opening to vent when pressure is excessive and closing when pressure is normal, providing self-service pressure regulation.
3Stress or pressure
If the venting assembly is designed to allow gas escape, then pressure relief is improved, but liquid product may leak through the same venting pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The venting tube is positioned and oriented such that its apertures are located in a region where liquid product does not naturally accumulate or flow. The local geometry and positioning ensure that only gas can pass through the apertures when the closure member is open, while liquid product is retained by the container walls and bottom.
Solution Approach 2:
The venting tube extends into the container body along a vertical axis, positioning the apertures in the upper portion of the container where gas accumulates. This dimensional arrangement separates the venting pathway from the liquid product region, allowing gas to escape through the apertures while liquid remains contained below.
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 effectively vents gases while maintaining product containment across orientations, preventing pressure-related issues and maintaining venting capacity even when in contact with liquid products.
Implementation Method 1
the venting assembly moves to the venting position in response to excessive pressure from accumulated gas
Implementation Method 2
a venting tube liner of resilient flexible material
Implementation Method 3
the hollow venting tube having an upper end in sealed contact with the inner surface of the top portion of the lid and a lower end bearing one or more apertures for the intake of accumulated gas
Implementation Method 4
the spatial arrangement of the venting assembly within the container body provides for venting of the container body independently of the orientation of the container, whilst retaining the product within the container body
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a container (10) for the packaging of a fluent product (P) which off-gases, the container comprising: a container body (11) for receiving and storing product and a removable lid (12) for closing the container body; in which the lid is provided with a venting assembly (20, 23a, 23b, 24) extending into the container body; in which the venting assembly has a closed position which is effective to close the container body and a venting position permitting the venting of gas from the container body; whereby, when the container body is partially filled with a fluent product which off-gases, the venting assembly moves to the venting position in response to excessive pressure from accumulated gas, and reverts to the closed position upon release of the excessive pressure, thus effecting periodic venting of the container body; and whereby the spatial arrangement of the venting assembly within the container body provides for venting of the container body independently of the orientation of the container, while retaining the product within the container body. The container is especially suitable for the packaging of viscous or semisolid products which incorporate an oxidizing agent, such as creams or gels for the bleaching or coloring of hair.