Plastic Container Recess for Vent Valve Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers filled with hot liquids and then closed can develop negative pressure as the contents cool, causing the container walls to partially collapse. This issue is exacerbated by the need for a vent valve, which can be suboptimally located, limiting design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A plastic container design featuring a recess on the container wall that widens inwardly to securely hold a functional element in a form-fitting manner, allowing for flexible placement and ensuring a smooth exterior surface. The recess is designed to accommodate various shapes and sizes of functional elements, including those with through-openings for gas exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vent valve is integrated into the container cap, then the container can prevent wall collapse from negative pressure, but the design flexibility and optimal positioning of the ventilation system is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The vent valve is extracted from the container cap and relocated to the container wall through a recess structure. This allows the ventilation function to be separated from the cap assembly, enabling independent optimization of both components and flexible positioning of the vent valve at the optimal location on the container wall for pressure equalization.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent valve positioning is moved from the traditional cap dimension to the container wall dimension. The recess structure provides a new spatial dimension for locating the vent valve, allowing it to be positioned at any suitable location on the container wall rather than being constrained to the cap area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a recess is formed in the container wall to hold a functional element, then design flexibility and secure holding are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recess structure and container wall are merged into a single integrated component. The recess is formed directly as part of the container wall during the extrusion blow molding process, eliminating the need for separate machining or assembly steps. This integration maintains design flexibility while simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess structure serves multiple functions: it provides secure form-fitting holding of the functional element through its widened configuration, maintains the smooth exterior surface, enables flexible positioning, and is manufacturable through standard extrusion blow molding processes. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If the recess widens inwardly to securely hold the functional element, then the holding security is improved, but the insertion difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The functional element is designed with a configuration that preliminarily prepares for insertion through the insertion opening. The element's shape complements the recess geometry, allowing it to be inserted through the narrower opening and then locked into the widened portion, ensuring secure holding while maintaining ease of insertion.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a plastic container (11) comprising a container wall (13) delimiting an interior of the container, and an outlet (12) on the container wall for pouring out a product contained in the plastic container (11). A recess (15) that projects into the interior of the container and is provided for accepting a functional element (17) is formed on the container wall (13), said recess (15) being accessible through an insertion hole (19).