Container End Closure Score Design to Prevent Tear Panel Missiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container end closures with pull tabs face issues of rapid score flexure or breakage, leading to the tear panel detaching and becoming a 'missile' when opening pressurized containers, and previous solutions like check slots complicate manufacturing and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of anti-missile features, such as double anti-missile features or combinations with check slots, that slow down the propagation of the fracture along the score line, preventing the tear panel from detaching, and allowing for standardized manufacturing processes across containers with varying pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If check slots are added to slow fracture propagation, then safety is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the score line by varying its depth along the propagation path. The score line transitions from a first depth at the initiation point to a second, greater depth at the propagation path, creating a tapering effect that slows fracture propagation without requiring additional features like check slots. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by achieving safety improvement through a single modified score geometry rather than multiple manufacturing features.
2Reliability
If check slots are added to prevent missile effect, then safety is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the score line depth parameter along its length, creating a tapered score that transitions from shallower at the initiation point to deeper at the propagation path. This single geometric modification slows fracture propagation and prevents the missile effect without requiring additional manufacturing steps or features, thereby improving safety while avoiding increased manufacturing cost.
3Reliability
If non-uniform score depth is used to slow fracture, then safety is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately introduces a controlled non-uniformity in the score line depth parameter, transitioning from a first depth to a greater second depth along the propagation path. This controlled parameter change slows fracture propagation while the gradient design actually simplifies manufacturing compared to creating precise check slots, as it requires a single continuous scoring operation rather than multiple precision steps.
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
This solution enhances safety by preventing the tear panel from becoming a missile and reduces manufacturing complexity and costs by eliminating the need for check slots in lower pressure containers, while maintaining controlled opening characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
at least one anti-missile feature positioned proximate to the first score line which deforms at least a portion of the first score line to affect the rate at which the tear panel opens along the first score line
Data Source
AI summary
An end closure for food and beverage containers provides controlled opening characteristics to prevent the unintentional missiling of a tear panel. The end closure comprises a score line that defines a portion of the tear panel, and the end closure may comprise one or more anti-missile features that inhibit the propagation of a fracture down a score line, which reduces the likelihood that a tear panel will inadvertently detach from the end closure and injure the user or another.