Plugging-Type Resin Cap with Breakable Restraining Band

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing plugging-type resin caps for containers with carbonated beverages face issues of sudden detachment due to internal pressure, leading to liquid splatter and increased disposal inconvenience, as they require excessive force for uncapping and result in additional parts being discarded.

Innovation Solution

A plugging-type resin cap design featuring an arcuate restraining portion with stoppers and engagement projections that interfit to enhance sealing, a tab structure allowing controlled pressure release, and a separate engagement projection system to prevent sudden detachment and simplify disposal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the restraining band firmly tightens the skirt wall to seal the container, then the sealing reliability is improved, but excessive force is required to remove the tightening during uncapping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidease of uncapping
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The restraining band is divided into a restraining portion and an upwardly projecting portion that are separable through the breakable portion. This segmentation allows the restraining band to maintain firm tightening for sealing while enabling easy removal by breaking the connection and releasing the tension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The upwardly projecting portion is extracted as a separate functional element that can be removed from the restraining portion. When the breakable portion breaks, the upwardly projecting portion is released, allowing the restraining band to loosen and the cap to be easily removed without excessive force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If the breakable portion is broken to remove tightening during uncapping, then the ease of operation is improved, but the internal pressure causes sudden detachment and liquid splatter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of uncappingVSAvoidliquid splatter
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The score is provided in advance on the metal cap to indicate where breaking should occur. Similarly, the breakable portion is pre-positioned to break at a specific location, ensuring controlled release of tightening before the cap detaches, preventing sudden detachment caused by internal pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tab acts as an intermediary element that connects the user's pulling action to the breakable portion. By pulling the tab, the user indirectly causes the breakable portion to break and the restraining band to loosen, providing a controlled intermediate step between gripping the cap and complete removal, preventing liquid splatter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the restraining band is made independent after breakable portion breaks, then the disposal convenience is improved, but the number of parts to be discarded increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisposal convenienceVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The upwardly projecting portion is merged with the restraining band to form a single integrated component. After the breakable portion breaks, the upwardly projecting portion remains attached to the restraining band, allowing both to be discarded together as one piece, reducing the number of separate parts while maintaining disposal convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3406537B1Plugging-type resin cap
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 NIPPON CLOSURES
  • EP3406537B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3406537B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3406537B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a plugging-type resin cap which can sufficiently seal a container and in which, upon uncapping of the container, a restraining band loosens after the pressure in the container is released without the application of an excessive force. A plugging-type resin cap (100) includes a restraining band (130), a tab (140), and engagement projections (151). The restraining band (130) has an arcuate restraining portion (131), stoppers (132), and an upwardly projecting portion (133). The stoppers (132) are formed to extend radially outward from the circumferential both ends of the restraining portion (131) . The engagement projections (151) are disposed over an outer side surface of a skirt wall (120) in the vicinity of the circumferential both ends of a tab (140). The stoppers (132) and the engagement projections (151) are formed to be fittable with each other.