Lid-Spout Assembly Flap Mechanism for Retaining Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lid-spout assemblies for packages with pourable food products face challenges in providing a strong tethering force, particularly when the collar is made from soft materials like LDPE, leading to limited retaining forces and convenience issues.
Innovation Solution
The proposed lid-spout assembly incorporates a flap mechanism interacting with annular ridges on the collar and coupling ring, ensuring a high retaining force and secure coupling, regardless of the collar material's hardness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the collar is made from soft material such as LDPE, then the collar is easier to manufacture and more flexible, but the retaining force provided by the interaction between the annular ridge and counter-ridges is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism is segmented into multiple interaction points: the annular ridge on the collar interacts with multiple counter-ridges on the coupling ring, creating distributed retention points that collectively provide sufficient retaining force even with soft materials
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a radial dimension to the retention mechanism by extending the annular ridge radially outward to engage with counter-ridges, creating a multi-dimensional retention system that compensates for the softness of LDPE material
2Ease of operation
If the radial extension of the annular ridge is limited to allow coupling of the coupling ring onto the collar, then the coupling process is easier, but the tethering force is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The annular ridge is designed with dynamic engagement characteristics that allow the coupling ring to be easily inserted and then securely retained, with the ridge deforming slightly during coupling to accommodate the coupling ring and then providing strong retention afterward
Solution Approach 2:
The annular ridge has non-uniform radial extension with different extension levels at different angular positions, providing localized engagement zones that facilitate both easy coupling and strong retention through strategic placement of counter-ridge interaction points
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
This design achieves a strong and reliable tethering force, ensuring the coupling ring and lid remain securely attached to the collar, even with soft material collars, while also reducing insertion forces and avoiding the use of slip agents.
Implementation Method 1
a flap configured to interact with the at least one annular ridge of the collar and the at least one counter-ridge of the coupling ring so as to provide a high retaining force
Data Source
AI summary
There is described lid-spout assembly for a package having a designated pour opening and being filled with a pourable product. The lid-spout assembly comprises at least a collar, a coupling ring arranged around a portion of the collar, a lid and a connecting element connecting the lid and the coupling ring with one another. The collar comprises a first annular interaction ridge and the coupling ring has at least one flap including at least one engagement surface abutting and/or designed to abut against an abutment surface of the first annular interaction ridge. The collar also comprises a second annular interaction ridge protruding from the outer surface of the collar and being axially displaced from the first annular interaction ridge. The flap further comprises at least one contact surface designed to interact and/or interacting with a guiding surface of the second annular interaction ridge so as to direct the engagement surface towards and/or against the abutment surface.