Liquid Container Sealing Unit With Flexible Valve Skirt Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid containers face issues with unreliable liquid-tight closures, reduced lifespan due to wear from high-PH substances and temperature changes, and difficulty in recycling due to multiple materials, leading to waste accumulation and hygiene concerns.
Innovation Solution
A sealing unit system comprising a female and male portion with a flexible valve skirt and rigid operating tube, allowing for a reliable liquid-tight closure through a combination of rigid and flexible elements, made from recyclable polymer materials, and designed for easy refilling and reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid-on-rigid connections are used for sealing, then structural strength is improved, but liquid-tight closure reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible sealing elements including a flexible valve skirt portion connected to the tubular valve portion and a flexible membrane at the distal end of the tubular element. These flexible components deform to create liquid-tight seals while the rigid operating tube provides structural strength for operation. The flexible membrane seals against the rigid operating tube during operation, combining flexibility for sealing with rigidity for strength.
2Manufacturing precision
If rigid sealing elements are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but wear resistance deteriorates under high-PH substances and temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible valve skirt portion and flexible membrane are designed to accommodate thermal expansion and chemical degradation without compromising sealing function. The flexible materials can deform to maintain seal integrity even when rigid components undergo dimensional changes due to temperature or pH exposure, thereby extending the operational lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the elastic properties of the flexible sealing elements to compensate for changes in temperature and pH conditions. The flexible membrane and valve skirt portion can change their deformation state in response to environmental parameters, maintaining effective sealing under varying conditions and reducing wear on rigid components.
3Reliability
If multiple materials are used in container parts, then functional performance is improved, but recyclability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs polymer materials that are chemically homogeneous and can be easily separated through recycling processes. The flexible sealing elements and rigid components are made from compatible polymers that can be melted and reprocessed together, enabling the entire sealing unit to be recycled as a single material stream rather than requiring complex separation of multiple material types.
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 system provides a tamper-proof, recyclable, and reusable liquid container solution with reliable liquid-tight closures, reducing waste and enhancing user experience through clean filling and precise dosing.
Implementation Method 1
the valve skirt portion comprises a flexible portion configured to bend when the tubular valve portion is moved from the closed position to the open position under influence of an external axial force exerted on a force receiving part of the tubular valve portion
Implementation Method 2
to urge the tubular valve portion back from the open position to the closed portion when the external axial force is removed
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing unit comprising a male and a female sealing unit portion (300, 200) are provided for selectively sealing and opening a liquid container (100). The female sealing unit portion comprises a tubular element (210, 410) comprising a liquid passage (211) configured to be fixedly positioned relative to the container and a valve (220) with a tubular valve portion (229) axially movable between a closed and open position. The valve may comprise a flexible valve skirt portion (219) configured to bend when the tubular valve portion is moved to the open position by an external axial force and to urge the tubular valve portion back from the open position to the closed portion when the external axial force is removed. The male sealing unit comprises a rigid operating tube (310) configured to be axially movable inside the liquid passage so as to engage the force receiving part of the valve portion and apply the external axial force to open the valve portion.