Magnetic Closure Cosmetic Container Self-Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cosmetic containers with threaded closures often require a neck on the receptacle, which can be inconvenient and may not provide a secure, fluid-tight seal, while also being prone to misalignment during use.

Innovation Solution

A cosmetic container with a self-aligning magnetic closure system, featuring a receptacle and cap with opposing magnetic portions and optional cam features, allowing for a secure, fluid-tight seal without mechanical threads and facilitating easy opening and closing by aligning magnetic poles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a threaded closure system is used, then the container can be securely closed, but the receptacle requires a neck structure that complicates the design and may not provide a reliable seal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal reliabilityVSAvoidreceptacle structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical threaded closure system with a magnetic closure system. Magnets are embedded in the receptacle and cap components, creating a magnetic attraction force that secures the cap to the receptacle body, eliminating the need for threads and neck structures while maintaining secure closure and sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes the neck component from the receptacle structure entirely. Instead of having a neck that threads into the body, the design uses a magnetic closure system that directly attaches the cap to the receptacle body, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining sealing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a threaded closure is used, then the container can be sealed, but misalignment during use is prone to occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal reliabilityVSAvoidalignment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic closure system automatically aligns the cap and receptacle components through magnetic attraction. The magnets are positioned to create an attractive force that pulls the components together into proper alignment, eliminating the misalignment issues that occur with threaded systems where precise threading alignment is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If a magnetic closure system is used, then alignment is simplified and sealing is improved, but the force required to open the container increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment easeVSAvoidopening force

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic closure system uses dynamic magnetic force characteristics. The magnetic attraction provides strong holding force during normal use to ensure secure sealing, but the force can be easily overcome by applying a small additional force during opening, as the magnetic force is not as rigid as mechanical threads. The cam feature also assists in reducing the opening force required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cam feature acts as an intermediary mechanical advantage element. When the user applies force to open the container, the cam feature engages with a recess in the receptacle, providing mechanical leverage that reduces the force needed to separate the magnetic components and open the container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 magnetic closure system ensures a strong, controlled seal and eliminates the need for a neck on the receptacle, providing a convenient and reliable method for storing and accessing cosmetic products while preventing misalignment issues.

Implementation Method 1

The cap and the receptacle forming a seal when the abutment surface of the cap is held in contact with the abutment surface of the receptacle by an attractive magnetic force between the first magnetic portion and the second magnetic portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

Rotation of the cap in relation to the receptacle mechanically separates the abutment surface of the cap from the abutment surface of the receptacle, decreasing the attractive magnetic force between the first magnetic portion and the second magnetic portion and breaking the seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical separation: Cam

Data Source

PatentUS10945510B2Cosmetic container with magnetic closure

Publication Date: 2021.03.16 COSMOPAK U S A LLC

AI summary

A cosmetic container with a self-aligning magnetic closure. The cosmetic container can include a cap with a first magnetic portion and an applicator including a plug, and a receptacle for receiving product therein, the receptacle having a second magnetic portion configured to engage with the first magnetic portion, and an access aperture configured to receive the applicator. In some implementations, one of the cap or the receptacle includes at least one cam feature and the other of the cap or the receptacle includes at least one recess configured to receive the at least one cam feature.