Flow-Limiting Device With Active Material And Polymer Seal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flow-limiting devices for containers, especially those adapted for bottles, fail to provide adequate moisture and oxygen barrier properties, leading to reduced shelf life of sensitive products.

Innovation Solution

A flow-limiting device with a combined cap for containers, featuring a flow-limiting part made of active material and a sealing part made of a different polymer material, which forms a moisture-tight seal and controls the gaseous atmosphere, ensuring the passage of one unitary product at a time while maintaining product freshness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a flow-limiting device is provided with a seal and inserted into a container cap to provide good sealing properties, then sealing performance is improved, but moisture and oxygen barrier properties remain insufficient, leading to reduced shelf life of sensitive products

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidmoisture and oxygen ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing part is made from a polymer material different from the flow-limiting part, creating a composite structure that combines the flow-controlling properties of the active material with the superior moisture and oxygen barrier properties of the specialized polymer sealing material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the device: the flow-limiting part uses active material for flow control while the sealing part uses a specialized polymer material optimized for moisture and oxygen barrier properties, ensuring each region has the quality needed for its specific function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a peelable heat seal is thermally sealed into the neck of the container or on the flow-limiting device to achieve inviolability and sealing, then sealing is improved, but the device lacks adaptability to different bottle types and extended shelf life protection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing and inviolabilityVSAvoidadaptability to bottles and shelf life extension

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing part is designed with a universal interface that can be adapted to different bottle types (plastic or glass) while maintaining effective sealing, and the active material provides additional functionality for extending shelf life by controlling the gaseous atmosphere within the container

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates active material that can change the gaseous atmosphere parameters (oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen levels) within the container to extend shelf life, while the sealing part maintains physical sealing properties across different container types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If desiccant entrained polymers are used as active material in a rigid bottle, then moisture control is improved, but the sealing properties are insufficient due to lack of elasticity and flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture controlVSAvoidsealing properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into two distinct parts: the flow-limiting part containing the active material (desiccant entrained polymer) for moisture control, and the sealing part made of elastic polymer material for reliable sealing, allowing each part to optimize its specific function without compromising the other

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different material qualities to different regions: the flow-limiting part uses active material with moisture-absorbing properties while the sealing part uses elastic polymer material with superior sealing properties, ensuring each region has the quality needed for its specific function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 device extends the shelf life of sensitive products by maintaining a controlled atmosphere, reducing moisture ingress, and preventing oxygen exposure, ensuring the products remain fresh for over two years under specified conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The sealing part is adapted to form a moisture-tight seal with the neck of the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

the active material supports the maintenance of a desired gaseous atmosphere within the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxygen scavenging:

Implementation Method 3

The sealing part is injection molded

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInjection molding:

Data Source

PatentEP3728073B1Flow-limiting device and cap for a container including same

Publication Date: 2022.03.23 AIRNOV INC

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AI summary

A flow-limiting device 24 for controlling the distribution of products 28, to be fitted into a neck 18 of a container for such products comprises a flow-limiting part 32, and a sealing part 34 wherein the flow-limiting part 32 consists of an active material and comprises a dispensing opening 36. The sealing part is made of a polymer material different to the material of the flow-limiting part. The sealing part is adapted to form a moisture-tight seal with the neck 18 of the container.