Hinged Closure With Integral Retaining Sections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hinged closures for containers, particularly sports drink bottles, face challenges in maintaining a consistent open position due to material fatigue, leading to unsatisfactory sealing and potential unintended closure, which affects recyclability and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A hinged closure design featuring a lower part with a thread for secure attachment to the container and an upper part with a retaining device comprising first and second retaining sections, an integral hinge, and a sealing nozzle, allowing for a wide opening angle and secure locking to prevent unintended closure, while being manufactured inexpensively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring mechanism is used to force the upper part to remain open, then the open position is maintained, but the device complexity increases and material fatigue causes unsatisfactory sealing over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring mechanism entirely and replaces it with a simple hinge connection between the upper and lower parts. The hinge allows the upper part to pivot open while gravity naturally keeps it in the open position during use, eliminating the need for elastic components that fatigue over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper part serves its own function of maintaining the open position through its weight and gravitational force. When the user releases the closure, the upper part naturally stays open without requiring any additional active components or energy sources, making the system self-regulating.
2Ease of operation
If the upper part is designed to pivot open freely, then ease of operation is improved, but unintended closure occurs due to gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the weight of the upper part itself as a counterbalancing force. The hinge connection allows the upper part to pivot, and its mass creates a moment that naturally maintains the open position, counteracting any tendency toward unintended closure.
3Reliability
If a retaining device with multiple retaining sections is added to prevent unintended closure, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining sections are integrated directly into the upper and lower parts as integral features rather than separate components. The first retaining section is formed as part of the lower part, and the second retaining section is formed as part of the upper part, allowing them to be manufactured in a single molding process without additional assembly steps.
4Ease of operation
If the closure is designed with high functionality for sports drink bottles, then ease of operation is improved, but recyclability becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The entire closure is constructed from a single type of plastic material, making it homogeneous and easily recyclable. The uniform material composition allows the closure to be processed through standard recycling streams without requiring separation of different materials or components.
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 ensures a comfortable, one-handed operation and prevents unintended pivoting of the upper part, maintaining a secure seal and allowing for easy recyclability while reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge section (4) to allow the upper part (3) to move between a first position and a second position, in which the upper part (3) is pivoted away from the lower part (2) by an opening angle
Implementation Method 2
a retaining device (30) comprising of a first retaining section (31) and a second retaining section (32), both being detachably combined by pivoting the upper part (3) into this second position
Data Source
AI summary
A hinged closure for a container, particularly a drinking bottle, includes a lower part and an upper part, a hinge section, with which the upper part can be pivoted from a first position to a second position, in which the upper part is pivoted away from the lower part by an opening angle, and a retaining device, having a first retaining section and a second retaining section, both being detachably connected when the upper part is moved into the second position.