Hybrid Closure Cap With Local Plastic Contact for Recyclable Threading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure caps for cosmetic containers, such as mascara, require significant plastic material that cannot be easily recycled, leading to environmental waste and inefficiencies in material separation.
Innovation Solution
A closure cap design featuring a connection area with a partial plastic contact material and a base body made of metal or ceramic, allowing for a screw or bayonet connection, where the plastic is minimized to a fraction less than 8% of the total volume, and the connection is facilitated by a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) for improved haptic perception and reduced noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the connection area is made entirely of plastic material to ensure proper friction and haptic perception, then the user experience is improved, but the amount of non-recyclable material increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using plastic material selectively only in the connection area where friction is needed for haptic perception, while the rest of the cap body is made of metal for recyclability. This localized application of plastic material resolves the contradiction by providing the necessary friction properties only where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by using plastic material in a reduced volume - specifically only in the connection area rather than throughout the entire cap. This partial application provides sufficient friction for user interaction while minimizing the amount of non-recyclable material.
2Reliability
If plastic material is used in the connection area to form a friction partner, then the screw connection functionality is improved, but the recycling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying plastic material locally only in the connection area where screw thread engagement occurs. This ensures reliable friction-based screw connection functionality while keeping the majority of the cap body in recyclable metal form, thereby maintaining recycling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining plastic and metal in a single cap structure. The plastic portion provides the necessary friction properties for screw connection, while the metal portion maintains recyclability, creating a hybrid material solution that satisfies both functional and environmental requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the entire connection area is covered with plastic material, then the friction behavior is optimized, but the volume of material to be eliminated for recycling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies plastic material selectively only in the connection area where friction is needed, rather than throughout the entire cap. This localized application optimizes friction behavior for user interaction while minimizing the total volume of non-recyclable plastic material that would need to be eliminated during recycling.
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 minimizes plastic waste, facilitates easy recycling, and provides a pleasant haptic experience with reduced noise and improved friction behavior during use.
Implementation Method 1
the essential function of the plastic material used in the connection area is to form a friction partner in the production of the connection between the cap and the container, which, for example in the case of a screw connection between the cap and a metal thread of the container, positively influences the friction behavior
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a closure cap (11) and a method for manufacturing a closure cap for a container (10) for holding cosmetic creams, liquids or pasty substances, such as mascara in particular, wherein the closure cap (11) is designed as a material hybrid with a connection area formed on an inner side (15) of a base body (12) of the closure cap (11) made of metal, plastic or ceramic for producing a connection of the closure cap (11) with the container (10) designed as a screw connection, bayonet connection or the like, wherein the connection area has a plastic material as contact material only in a partial area to form a contact contact between the closure cap (11) and the container (10) and is otherwise formed from the material of the base body (12).