Flip-Cap Pouring Spout with Variable-Thickness Closure Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pouring elements for cardboard/plastic composite packages require high opening forces and are prone to unintentional opening, making them difficult to open smoothly and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The pouring element features a closure element with a thinned-out section and a stabilization section, allowing for a staggered force distribution during opening, facilitated by a grip portion and an anchor element, which eases the opening process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the closure element is made with uniform thickness to ensure structural stability, then the reliability of closure is improved, but the opening force required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element features variable thickness distribution: a thinned-out section (0.3-0.6mm) at the opening side and a stabilization section (0.7-1.2mm) at the rear side. This local quality variation allows the thinned section to require less opening force while the stabilization section maintains closure reliability and structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the closure element is made thinner to reduce opening force, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural stability and resistance to unintentional opening deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the closure element have different thicknesses optimized for their specific functions: the thinned-out section (0.3-0.6mm) provides ease of opening, while the stabilization section (0.7-1.2mm) provides structural stability and prevents unintentional opening, achieving both goals simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element is segmented into functional zones: a thinned-out section for opening, a stabilization section for stability, and intermediate sections for transition. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently for its specific purpose.
3Ease of manufacture
If the closure element has uniform thickness to simplify manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the opening process becomes less smooth and more forceful
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element incorporates local thickness variations with thinned-out and stabilization sections. While this increases manufacturing complexity compared to uniform thickness, modern injection molding technology can efficiently produce these variable thickness profiles, achieving a reasonable balance between manufacturing ease and opening smoothness.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a pouring element (1,30) for cardboard/plastic composite packages comprising a spout body (2),and a flip cap (3,37), wherein the spout body (2) comprises a circumferential fastening flange (4) for fastening the spout body (2) to the composite package and a pouring tube (5,39) extending from the fastening flange (4) and surrounding a longitudinal axis (A), wherein the flip cap (3,37) comprises a closure element (6,31,C) closing the pouring tube (5,39) in a closed state of the pouring element (1,30), wherein the flip cap (3,37) comprises an anchor element (8,AE) connecting to a rear side of the closure element (6,31,C) and configured to permanently attach the flip cap (3,37) to the spout body (2) in a swiveling manner, and wherein the flip cap (3,37) comprises a grip portion (7,35,G) assigned to a front side of the closure element (6,31,C), opposite the rear side regarding the longitudinal axis (A), for gripping the flip cap (3,37) for opening of the pouring element (1,30). In order to achieve the object, according to which the pouring element can be easily and more smoothly opened without a disproportionate risk of an unintentional opening of the pouring element, the closure element (6,31,C) comprises a stabilization section (21,33,S) and at least one thinned-out section (19,32,T) arranged between the stabilization section (21,33,S) and the grip portion (7,35,G) and/or the anchor element (8,AE), wherein the axial thickness of the thinned-out section (19,32,T) is not more than 90% of the axial thickness of the stabilization section (21,33,S) of the closure element (6,31,C).