Hinged Cap Liquid Build-up Prevention Part

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hinged caps face issues with liquid content squirting out and adhering to the upper lid, leading to difficulties in closing and potential spills when stored on their side, due to incomplete liquid return and surface tension accumulation.

Innovation Solution

A hinged cap design featuring a circular suspended part with an outer circumferential abutment and a liquid build-up prevention part, including an inclined end face and a fitting guide, minimizes liquid accumulation and facilitates easy opening and closing by guiding the upper lid smoothly over the tubular spout wall, preventing squirting and adhesion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the upper lid is closed to seal the container interior, then the liquid content adheres on the inner side of the upper lid, but when the upper lid is opened again the liquid content scatters or drips

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidliquid scattering and dripping
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid build-up prevention part extracts and removes liquid content from the upper lid surface by providing a dedicated liquid collection groove that directs adhered liquid away from the sealing surface, preventing subsequent scattering and dripping when the lid is opened

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid collection groove acts as an intermediary structure between the sealing surface and the exterior, capturing and containing liquid content that adheres during closure, thereby preventing it from scattering when the lid is opened

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the tubular spout wall is flared out with circumferential groove and liquid pocket, then liquid content accumulates in the liquid pocket, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid return controlVSAvoidspout wall structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid build-up prevention part integrates multiple functions into a single structure: it provides liquid collection through the groove, guides liquid flow back to the container, and maintains sealing effectiveness, thereby controlling liquid return without requiring separate complex components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid collection groove is merged with the liquid build-up prevention part structure, combining the liquid collection function with the existing cap geometry rather than adding a separate liquid management system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If the outer circumferential surface and annular surface are formed as mirror surface, then liquid content is quickly collected, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid collection speedVSAvoidsurface finish precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid build-up prevention part applies a specific surface treatment (mirror surface) only to the liquid collection groove area where liquid accumulation occurs, rather than requiring mirror finish on the entire upper lid surface, thus maintaining liquid collection effectiveness while reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements

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 design effectively prevents liquid content from squirting out and accumulating on the upper lid, ensuring reliable closure and minimizing spills, even when the container is stored on its side, by eliminating clearance for liquid buildup and reducing resistance during lid closure.

Implementation Method 1

due to incomplete liquid return and surface tension accumulation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentEP3611110B1Hinge cap
Publication Date: 2023.02.15 NIPPON CLOSURES
  • EP3611110B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(d)
  • EP3611110B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(e)
  • EP3611110B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

To provide a hinged cap that allows easy opening and closing of an upper lid and is capable of preventing liquid content from squirting out and minimizing adhesion of the content on the top face of the cap inside a circular suspended part of the upper lid or around an outer circumferential abutment part with a simple structure. A hinged cap (100) includes a cap body (110) and an upper lid (130) connected by a hinge (150), with a tubular spout wall (112) provided on an upper surface side of the cap body (110), and a circular suspended part (132) provided on an upper lid top face (131). The circular suspended part (132) has an outer circumferential abutment part (133) that makes contact with an inner circumferential surface of the tubular spout wall (112). The hinged cap includes a liquid build-up prevention part (134) at least in a lower part of the circular suspended part (132) opposite to a part connected to the hinge.