Multi-Flange Screw Cap Maintains Fluid-Tight Seal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealable containers with screw-on caps suffer from compromised fluid-tight seals after the first use due to plastic deformation, leading to unreliable containment of liquid samples during repeated openings and closings.
Innovation Solution
A container and cap assembly with an integrally connected cap featuring multiple sealing flanges and a unique annular lip configuration, allowing for multiple sealing engagements and enhanced leak-proof characteristics, even at higher internal pressures, achieved through a one-piece injection molded thermoplastic construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a screw-on cap with single sealing engagement is used, then the container can be opened and closed, but the fluid-tight seal is compromised after the first use due to plastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into multiple sealing flanges (first sealing flange, second sealing flange, third sealing flange) that can engage with the container body at different positions and times. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be distributed across multiple engagement points, preventing the concentration of stress at a single location that causes plastic deformation in traditional single-seal designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap transitions from a static single-seal design to a dynamic multi-stage sealing system. During opening and closing operations, different sealing flanges engage sequentially or simultaneously depending on the degree of closure, allowing the system to adapt to varying operational conditions while maintaining seal integrity through elastic deformation rather than plastic deformation.
2Device complexity
If a single sealing flange is used, then the cap structure is simple, but the seal reliability deteriorates under higher internal pressures and repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into multiple flanges positioned at different locations on the cap. The first sealing flange engages with the container body, the second sealing flange provides additional sealing, and the third sealing flange offers a third line of defense. This segmentation distributes the sealing load across multiple contact points, enhancing reliability under pressure without requiring excessive complexity in any single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple sealing flanges act as a cushioning system against pressure-induced seal failure. If one sealing engagement is compromised by internal pressure or operational wear, the remaining sealing flanges provide backup sealing capacity, cushioning against complete seal failure and maintaining fluid-tight integrity throughout the container's service life.
3Ease of manufacture
If plastic deformation is used for sealing engagement, then the cap can be easily manufactured, but the sealing integrity is compromised after repeated openings and closings
Solution Approach 1:
The design changes the deformation parameter from plastic (permanent) to elastic (reversible) deformation for the sealing mechanism. The sealing flanges are designed to elastically deform during engagement and return to their original shape, allowing repeated opening and closing cycles without permanent deformation or loss of sealing capability. This parameter change maintains ease of manufacture while dramatically improving seal durability.
Data Source
AI summary
A container and cap assembly includes a container body and a cap integrally connected to the container body. An annular recess is formed in the lip of the container. The cap includes first and second sealing flanges that form a generally fluid tight seal with an annular lip of the container body.