Flexible Membrane Closure for Hot-Fill Vacuum Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers for hot-fill processes in the packaging industry face challenges in managing internal vacuum without compromising container weight or diameter, and they often fail to meet e-commerce shipping standards.

Innovation Solution

A closure system with a flexible membrane and metallic ring that adjusts from an outward to an inward configuration in response to vacuum, allowing for reduced container weight and a robust seal, eliminating the need for vacuum bases or panels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing vacuum displacement methods (vacuum panels, nitrogen dosing, compressible ribs) are used, then internal vacuum is managed, but container weight increases or container diameter is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevacuum displacement capabilityVSAvoidcontainer weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible membrane within the closure that deforms in response to vacuum pressure. This flexible element displaces vacuum without requiring rigid structural additions to the container, thereby avoiding increased container weight while maintaining vacuum displacement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the vacuum displacement function from the container body itself and relocates it to the closure assembly. By placing the flexible membrane in the closure rather than modifying the container structure, the container remains lightweight while the closure handles vacuum compensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If existing vacuum displacement structures are added to the container, then vacuum is managed, but container diameter is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevacuum displacement capabilityVSAvoidcontainer diameter

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum displacement function is extracted from the container body and placed in the closure. This allows the container to maintain its full diameter without structural modifications, as the flexible membrane in the closure performs the vacuum compensation independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the vacuum displacement function from the container structure and assigns it to a separate closure component. This modular approach allows the container to retain its original dimensions while the closure assembly handles vacuum management through the flexible membrane.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If simple closure seals are used, then manufacturing is simple, but shipping standards (ISTA-6) are not met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidshipping standard compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible membrane provides enhanced sealing capability that meets rigorous shipping standards while maintaining a relatively simple closure structure. The membrane's ability to deform and seal dynamically ensures compliance with ISTA-6 standards without complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The closure design incorporates parameters that enable it to meet shipping standards, such as the flexible membrane's material properties and deformation characteristics. These parameter optimizations allow the closure to withstand shipping conditions while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system effectively displaces vacuum, reduces container weight, and ensures a robust seal that meets e-commerce shipping standards, such as ISTA-6, without requiring additional structural modifications.

Implementation Method 1

a process of hot-filling is used, which requires the product to be heated to temperatures from 180° F. to 205° F. prior to filling the container. After filling, the container is capped to integrally seal the container with a closure. After sealing, the container begins to cool resulting in an internal vacuum within the container.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

The flexible membrane is removably sealed across the ring and is configured to be drawn from an outward, pre-fill configuration to an inward, post-fill configuration in response to a vacuum created within the container during the hot-fill process.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS12522416B2Container closure with flexible membrane

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 AMCOR RIGID PACKAGING USA LLC

AI summary

A closure for a polymeric container configured to be filled with a commodity by a hot-fill process. The closure includes an outer metallic ring and a flexible membrane. The flexible membrane is removably sealed across the ring and is configured to be drawn from an outward, pre-fill configuration to an inward, post-fill configuration in response to a vacuum created within the container during the hot-fill process. In the inward, post-fill configuration the flexible membrane is concave relate to an outer side of the closure.