Pour Spout Neck Finish With Internal Trough For Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers with pour spouts lack efficient designs for directing the flow of products out of the container, leading to potential spills and uneven pouring.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a neck finish with a non-cylindrical upper portion that includes radially inward spout walls, a rear wall, and a trough wall, along with thickened wall portions to form an internal trough that directs the flow towards a pour spout, and a spout indicator for user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional pour spout design is used, then the container structure is simple, but the product flow direction is not controlled leading to spills and uneven pouring
Solution Approach 1:
The neck finish upper portion is segmented into multiple functional walls: spout walls defining the pour spout opening, a rear wall, and a trough wall. These segments work together to create an internal trough that directs product flow, providing controlled pouring while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal trough is created by thickening specific wall portions (spout walls and trough wall) in localized areas where flow direction control is needed. This allows precise control of product flow direction without adding complexity to the entire container structure.
2Productivity
If no flow direction control is provided, then the container structure is simple, but spills occur and pouring efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The internal trough extends axially along the neck finish, utilizing the vertical dimension to guide product flow downward toward the pour spout. This axial arrangement efficiently directs flow without requiring complex lateral structures, improving pouring efficiency while minimizing added complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the pour spout location is not indicated, then the container structure is simpler, but users have difficulty locating the pour spout for access
Solution Approach 1:
The spout indicator is formed by applying a different color or finish to specific portions of the neck finish, making the pour spout location visually distinct and easily identifiable. This simple visual cue significantly improves ease of operation without adding mechanical complexity to the container structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A container (22) includes a body (26) including a base (28) and a sidewall (30) extending from the base, and a neck finish (34) extending from the body and including a pour spout (47). The neck finish may include a lower portion adjacent to the body with a cylindrical outer surface and at least one closure engagement feature, and a non-cylindrical portion remote from the body with laterally opposed indents forming the pour spout. The container also may include at least one thickened wall portion extending radially inwardly to form an internal trough to direct flow of product toward the pour spout. The sidewall may include a spout indicator circumferentially corresponding to the pour spout.