Inside-Out Container Manufacturing With Integrated Leak-Resistant Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealable bags and containers face challenges in manufacturing due to the difficulty in creating integrated leak-resistant seals that do not require external structures for support, leading to issues with leakage and manufacturing complexity.
Innovation Solution
An inside-out method of manufacturing containers with a leak-resistant seal, where an elastomer or plastic is formed into a container inside out, allowing for the formation of a leak-resistant seal on the external surface before inverting the container, which provides enhanced leak resistance without external support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional sealing methods are used with external structures, then sealing force can be maintained, but device complexity increases and manufacturing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes external sealing structures (clips, clasps, mechanical fasteners) from the system entirely. Instead, the seal is integrated directly into the container wall through molded-in ridges and grooves that engage with each other, eliminating the need for separate external sealing components while maintaining adequate sealing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is merged with the container structure itself. The ridges and grooves are molded as integral parts of the container wall, combining the structural and sealing functions into a single unified component rather than requiring separate external sealing mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If integrated seals are used without external structures, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing force becomes insufficient and leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The container wall features localized thickening at the sealing regions where ridges and grooves are molded in. This local increase in material thickness and structural reinforcement provides sufficient sealing force at the critical sealing interfaces without requiring external structures, while the rest of the container maintains its normal thin-wall construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing interfaces utilize curved or rounded ridge and groove profiles rather than sharp angular features. This curvature distributes contact pressure more evenly across the sealing interface, improving seal reliability and preventing leakage without requiring external mechanical fasteners.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional molding methods are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but seal integration requires additional bonding steps
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing features (ridges and grooves) are molded into the container wall during the initial forming process before any assembly or bonding operations. This preliminary integration of the seal structure eliminates subsequent bonding steps and simplifies the overall manufacturing process.
4Manufacturing precision
If seal ridges are made thin for better sealing, then sealing precision improves, but sealing force decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure utilizes a composite geometry combining thin precision ridges and grooves for sealing contact with locally thickened container walls for structural strength. The thin ridges provide precise sealing surfaces while the surrounding thickened wall material provides the necessary mechanical strength and sealing force.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments include a method of manufacturing a container with a leak resistant seal. The method includes forming an elastomer or a plastic or any combination thereof into a container inside out by forming an outside portion of the container on an internal surface of the container before inverting the container and forming an inside portion of the container on an external surface of the container before inverting the container. In embodiments, the method includes forming or coupling a leak resistant seal on the external surface of the container before inverting the container. The leak resistant seal provides access to the inside portion of the container when the leak resistant seal is open after inverting the container and holds at least liquid internal to the container when applying an external force to the container without use of an external structure to keep the leak resistant seal closed after inverting the container.