Dispensing Closure With Dual Seals and Cruciform Valve Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure systems for containers fail to provide a reliable and secure seal, especially when subjected to external forces like squeezing, shaking, or dropping, leading to potential leakage and premature opening.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing closure system featuring a self-closing valve with a combination of external and internal seals, including a cruciform internal seal and cooperating retention beads, which ensures the valve remains closed and prevents leakage by engaging with the spout's exterior and interior faces, and a secondary seal system for added security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single seal system is used in the closure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the seal deteriorates when subjected to external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The seal system is divided into multiple independent sealing components: an outer seal that seals against the outer surface of the spout, and an inner seal that seals against the inner surface of the spout. This segmentation allows each seal to perform its specific function independently, ensuring that if one seal is compromised, the other maintains the seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner seal is positioned within the spout cavity, nested inside the structure formed by the outer seal. The outer seal engages with the external spout surface while the inner seal engages with the internal spout surface, creating a nested sealing arrangement that provides redundant protection against leakage.
2Reliability
If a simple valve retention structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the valve may open prematurely when the package is subjected to squeezing, shaking, or dropping
Solution Approach 1:
The retention structure features a cruciform configuration with four arms that engage with corresponding features on the valve. This local geometric design provides targeted mechanical interlocking at specific points around the valve perimeter, preventing premature opening while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cruciform retention structure introduces an asymmetric geometric pattern that provides enhanced mechanical engagement. The four arms of the cruciform shape create multiple engagement points that resist forces from various directions, preventing the valve from opening during handling operations such as squeezing, shaking, or dropping.
Data Source
AI summary
A dispensing closure includes a base and a lid. The base includes a dispensing spout defining a dispensing orifice. A self-closing valve controls fluid flow out of the orifice in use. The lid includes a spout sealing arrangement including an external seal for sealing against an outer face of the spout and an internal seal for sealing against an inner face of the spout.