Oversized Tabbed Seal with Temporary Bonding for Easy Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container seals with tabs are difficult to remove due to lack of sufficient gripping surface area and often deform or twist during cap installation, leading to sealing issues.
Innovation Solution
A tabbed seal design with a larger gripping tab that includes a first free portion and a second temporarily bonded portion, allowing for enhanced grasping and minimizing deformation during cap installation, featuring a layered structure with a release layer that can rupture or release to facilitate easy removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a side tab is extended outwardly from the seal to provide grasping surface area, then the consumer can easily hold and peel off the seal, but the tab protrudes into the threaded portion of the closure and causes deformation or wrinkling of the seal during cap installation
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into two functional portions: a first portion that bonds to the container rim and forms a heat seal, and a second portion (tab) that is temporarily bonded to the first portion. This segmentation allows the tab to be separated from the sealing surface, preventing interference with cap installation while maintaining easy grasping functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab is temporarily bonded to the first portion during cap installation, preventing deformation or wrinkling of the seal under the cap. After installation, the temporary bond releases, allowing the tab to be freely grasped and pulled for seal removal. This preliminary bonding action prevents the worsening effect during installation.
2Area of moving object
If a full layer of material is used to form a large tab, then the grasping area is increased, but an additional full layer of material and adhesive is required, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a full layer of material across the entire seal, the invention applies material only where needed: the bonding layer is applied only to the portion of the tab that requires temporary bonding to the first portion. This localized application reduces overall material usage and simplifies the layer structure while still providing sufficient grasping area.
Solution Approach 2:
The bonding layer is applied partially rather than fully across the tab. The temporary bonding is sufficient to prevent deformation during installation, but does not require complete coverage. This partial action approach reduces material complexity while achieving the necessary functional effect.
3Quantity of substance
If the tab is made slippery or thin to reduce material usage, then material cost is reduced, but the user cannot maintain sufficient grip for safe and quick removal
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding characteristics of the bonding layer are dynamic: temporarily bonded during cap installation to prevent deformation, then release to allow easy tab removal. This dynamic bonding behavior provides the necessary grip assistance during removal without requiring excessive material or creating a permanently sticky surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The bonding layer acts as an intermediary between the tab and the first portion. It provides temporary adhesion during installation to prevent deformation, then releases to facilitate easy removal. This intermediary layer solves the contradiction by providing controlled grip assistance without requiring the tab itself to be thick or high-friction material.
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 design provides a larger graspable surface area, reducing the force required for removal and preventing tab deformation, ensuring consistent sealing and easy installation.
Implementation Method 1
The lower laminate portion includes a sealant layer for sealing to the rim of the container
Implementation Method 2
The second temporarily bonded portion is defined by at least a portion of the release layer and configured to release from one of the upper and lower laminate portions or rupture
Data Source
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AI summary
Various enhancements of tabbed seals are provided herein with enhanced grasping functionality. Such enhancements include an oversized tab structure for increasing the overall surface area of the tab. In some forms, the tab has been configured such that the overall gripping tab is larger, but a portion thereof is temporarily adhered to the lower laminate, such as during seal and/ or cap installation. Instead, the gripping tab includes a small free portion and then a second, temporarily bonded portion that can either release or rupture, permitting the overall grippable portion of the tab to be large.