Flip Top Closure Locking Flap Prevents Leakage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Consumer goods manufacturers face challenges with leakage during shipping and handling of bottles with flip-top closures, particularly in e-commerce, where individual bottles are more vulnerable to damage and unintended opening.
Innovation Solution
A flip-top closure design featuring a cap base with a movable closing flap and a locking flap that can be secured to prevent inadvertent opening, using a living hinge attachment and a recessed mechanism for enhanced security during transport, while allowing convenient use without additional steps in daily operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flip-top closure is used for consumer goods, then the closure is easy to open and close for consumers, but the closure may unexpectedly open during shipment causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
A locking flap is provided that can be positioned in a locked position to prevent inadvertent opening of the closing flap during shipment. The locking flap includes a fastener that can engage with the cap base to secure the closing flap in its closed position before transport, while still allowing easy access for consumers when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking flap is designed to be movable between a locked position (extending outward to engage the fastener) and an unlocked position (retracted or tucked away). This dynamic element allows the closure to adapt between secure transport mode and easy consumer use mode, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent inadvertent opening during transport, then leakage prevention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking flap is integrated with the closing flap as a single molded piece, and the fastener is incorporated into the cap base structure. This merging of components reduces the overall complexity compared to having separate locking mechanisms, while still providing reliable leakage prevention during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking flap is designed to be manually operable by the consumer without requiring additional tools or complex mechanisms. The consumer can easily position the locking flap in the locked position for transport or the unlocked position for use, making the system self-sufficient and avoiding the need for motorized or complex mechanical locking systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A closure (10) of the flip-top type, and a closure combined with a bottle or other container The closure comprises a cap base (12) which can be releasably fastened to a package (74), the cap base including an opening. A closing flap (16) is movably attached to the cap base and is suitable, when it is in a closed position, for preventing egress of a liquid from the package through the cap base opening. The closing flap has a locking flap extending therefrom, and movably attached to the closing flap. A locking flap fastener (70) is provided for releasably securing the locking flap to the cap base or to the package to prevent inadvertent opening of the closure during transport and use by the consumer. The locking flap (38) may be tucked within the closing flap during normal use and used to lock the closing flap during transport. The locking flap may be disposed in a recess (20) in the cap base.