Irrigation Container Break-Off Closures for Precisely Defined Openings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing irrigation containers lack precise formation of closures, particularly those that require a predetermined breaking point or tamper evidence features, due to the limitations of forming closures from outside the mold.

Innovation Solution

A process involving pre-produced break-off caps that are fluidly connected and sealed to the base container, allowing for precise formation of closures with defined openings and tamper evidence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the closure is formed by pressing the opening together from outside the mold, then the container can be produced using conventional blow-molding processes, but the closure cannot be precisely formed and predetermined breaking points cannot be created

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure formation precisionVSAvoidproduction process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure is separated from the base container and produced as an independent pre-formed component. This allows the closure to be manufactured with high precision using injection molding, including integrated break-off caps and tamper-evident features, while the base container is produced separately via blow-molding. The two components are then joined through sealing, combining the advantages of both manufacturing methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If a pre-formed break-off cap is sealed to the base container, then precise closure formation and tamper evidence features are achieved, but the production process becomes more complex with additional steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure and breaking point precisionVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure and break-off cap are pre-formed as ready-to-use components before being assembled with the base container. This preliminary manufacturing of precision components allows the final assembly to be a straightforward sealing operation, maintaining high production speeds while ensuring precise closure geometry and functional features are already optimized in the pre-formed parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the closure is formed from outside the mold, then the container structure remains simple, but tamper evidence features and defined breaking points cannot be implemented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure functionalityVSAvoidclosure geometry precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-formed closure acts as an intermediary component that bridges the base container and the required functional features (break-off cap, tamper evidence). This separate closure component is manufactured with high precision injection molding to include complex geometries and functional elements, then sealed to the base container, enabling advanced closure functionalities that cannot be achieved through conventional external forming methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250275889A1Container for irrigation application comprising a precisely defined opening and a production process thereof

Publication Date: 2025.09.04 B BRAUN MELSUNGEN AG

AI summary

A process for producing a container includes the steps of producing a base container comprising at least one wall, the at least one wall having an opening, producing a break-off cap, fluidly connecting the break-off cap with the opening of the base container to form a connection of the opening with the break-off cap, and sealing the connection of the opening with the break-off cap. The resulting container can be used in an irrigation application.