Peelable Foil Closure With Wavy Edge Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional peelable foil closures for containers require excessive force to remove due to crimping around the neck finish, making them difficult to peel off without tools.

Innovation Solution

A peelable foil closure with a semi-circular and wavy edge geometry, featuring a pull tab, which reduces the hoop strength of the skirt to facilitate easier peeling by minimizing resistance during removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the skirt is crimped to the container neck finish, then the closure is securely attached, but the peel force required to remove the closure increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidpeel force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The skirt edge is segmented into different geometric portions (circular portion and wavy portion) that provide different functional properties. The circular portion maintains secure attachment while the wavy portion reduces peel force resistance during removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the skirt edge are given different local geometries to perform different functions. The circular edge portion provides stable attachment during storage, while the wavy edge portion facilitates easy peeling during removal by reducing mechanical resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the skirt has a fully cylindrical shape, then the closure structure is simple and strong, but the closure becomes difficult to peel away from the container

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidpeeling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The skirt is divided into different geometric segments along its circumference - a circular edge portion for structural integrity and a wavy edge portion for peeling facilitation. This segmentation allows the closure to maintain strength while enabling easy removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wavy edge portion introduces non-circular curvature variations to the otherwise cylindrical skirt. This curvature modification reduces the mechanical interlocking between the skirt and neck finish, allowing the closure to peel away easily while maintaining overall structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3592660B1Peelable foil container closure having a wavy edge
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 OWENS BROCKWAY GLASS CONTAINER INC
  • EP3592660B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3592660B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3592660B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A peelable foil closure (14, 114) includes a base (30, 130) extending longitudinally along a first, longitudinal axis (A) and laterally along a second, lateral axis (B), and a skirt (32, 132) extending from the base. The skirt includes a first portion (40, 140) including a circular edge (34, 134) having a predominant portion located on a first side of the second axis. The skirt also includes a second portion (42, 142) including a wavy edge (36, 136), and a pull tab (38, 138) located on a second side of the second axis.