Rotatable Disk Dispensing Closure for Full Open Pouring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing closures often require removal to achieve full open dispensing, leading to cumbersome operation and potential spillage, especially when handling large quantities of contents.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing closure design featuring a body portion with a skirt that engages a container, a flap portion with a rotatable disk for adjustable dispensing orifices, and a lock mechanism to prevent accidental opening, allowing for full open dispensing without removal from the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the dispensing closure is removed from the container to achieve full open dispensing, then the flow rate of contents increases, but the operation becomes cumbersome and spillage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the closure body removable from the container while keeping the dispensing mechanism functional. The closure can be taken off the container neck and used as a standalone dispensing device, allowing full open dispensing through the rim of the container without requiring complete removal from the container system. This resolves the contradiction by enabling high flow rate operation while maintaining ease of use through the flexible attachment/detachment capability.
2Productivity
If the dispensing opening size is increased to improve dispensing speed, then the flow rate of contents increases, but the closure can no longer provide secure sealing when not fully attached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the closure into a removable closure body and a separate dispensing mechanism. The closure body can be detached from the container neck, allowing the dispensing opening to be enlarged or fully opened without compromising the sealing function, which is maintained through the skirting portion that can engage with the container rim. This segmentation allows independent optimization of dispensing speed and sealing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic nature of the removable closure body allows the system to switch between sealed storage mode (when attached) and full open dispensing mode (when removed). The dispensing opening can be maximized for high-speed dispensing when the closure is detached, while the skirting portion ensures secure sealing when attached, thus resolving the contradiction between dispensing speed and sealing capability.
3Ease of operation
If a flap mechanism is added to allow access without complete removal, then ease of operation improves, but the dispensing opening size is limited and flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the entire closure body removable rather than using a fixed flap mechanism. This allows the user to detach the closure completely and use it as a handheld dispensing device, achieving both ease of operation (no need to unscrew or manipulate complex flaps) and high flow rate (full open dispensing through the container rim). The dynamic removal capability supersedes the limited flap approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A dispensing closure comprising a body portion and a flap portion is provided. The body portion comprises an end wall, a skirt that depends from end wall, and an opening about the same size as end wall. Flap portion comprises a lid comprising at least one dispensing opening and a disk comprising one or more dispensing orifices. The disk is in rotatable contact with the lid. A lock portion comprising a surface area formed on the flap portion. Lock portion also comprises a first substantially vertical piece formed on a first side of surface area, a second substantially vertical piece formed on a second side of surface area, and a substantially horizontal piece formed at a bottom of the first substantially vertical piece and the second substantially vertical piece. Surface area, first substantially vertical piece, second substantially vertical piece, and the substantially horizontal piece form a latched opening.