Dispensing Closure Geometry for Mixing Separated Container Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closures for containers with fluid products, particularly those with varying viscosities or components, experience undesired dispensing properties due to separation of components within the product, leading to improper flow and mixing.
Innovation Solution
A closure design featuring a base element with a first and second flow control element, arranged to control and change the flow direction of liquids, enhancing dispensing and mixing without a membrane valve, allowing for smoother and more efficient fluid discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a membrane valve is used to control dispensing, then dispensing control is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the membrane valve from the closure structure entirely. Instead of using a membrane valve to control dispensing, the invention uses the closure's geometric features (skirt portion, deck portion, and flow path configuration) to achieve controlled dispensing through gravity and pressure differential alone, thereby simplifying the device structure while maintaining reliable dispensing control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical membrane valve system with a passive geometric flow control system. The controlled dispensing is achieved through the closure's structural design (skirt portion extending into the container, deck portion with opening, and flow path configuration) rather than through mechanical valve components, reducing complexity while maintaining functionality
2Manufacturing precision
If a membrane valve is used to ensure controlled dispensing, then dispensing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates and recyclability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the membrane valve component from the closure assembly, eliminating the need for complex valve manufacturing and assembly processes. The controlled dispensing function is achieved through the closure's geometric configuration (skirt portion, deck portion, and flow path design) which can be manufactured using standard injection molding techniques, significantly improving ease of manufacture while maintaining dispensing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from active mechanical control (membrane valve) to passive geometric control. By optimizing the geometric parameters of the closure (skirt portion extension, deck portion opening size, flow path configuration), the invention achieves precise dispensing control through the physical geometry rather than mechanical components, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining precision
3Stability of the object's composition
If product components separate within the container, then storage stability is improved, but dispensing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a mixing chamber within the closure structure where product components are remixed before dispensing. This preliminary mixing action occurs as the product flows through the closure's internal geometry (between the skirt portion and deck portion), ensuring homogeneous dispensing quality even when components have separated during storage, thereby maintaining reliable dispensing properties without compromising storage stability
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 achieves enhanced dispensing properties, including smoother flow and increased mixing of fluids, even without a membrane valve, facilitating easier manufacturing and recycling, and providing customizable flow control through geometric arrangements.
Implementation Method 1
fluid is capable of flowing through voids between the plate element, the rack elements and the deck portion
Implementation Method 2
flow of liquid between the plate element of the first flow control element and the second flow control element is preferably prevented
Implementation Method 3
a direction of the flow of liquid during dispensing is controlled or influenced by these first and second flow control elements such that the direction of flow is changed at least once
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5C
AI summary
The present invention relates to a dispensing closure for a container, said dispensing closure comprising a base element, and the base element comprises a deck portion, a skirt portion and a dispensing opening. The dispensing closure also comprises a first flow control element and a second flow control element.