Pouring Element With Pivot Arms for Reliable Seal Breaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pouring packages and elements often fail to break the seal efficiently and hygienically, requiring excessive force and allowing partial seal impaction, which impedes fluid outflow and compromises hygiene.
Innovation Solution
A pouring package with pivot arms connected to the breaking element, allowing a large translational movement and spring force to efficiently break the seal, combined with a flexible wall portion to prevent direct user contact and contamination, and a plate-shaped cutting element for effective seal piercing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a breaking element is provided between the wall of the pouring element and the seal, then the seal can be broken from the outside, but the breaking element does not break the seal to a sufficient degree, leaving part of the seal impeding the flow path
Solution Approach 1:
The breaking element is made movable relative to the pouring element body through pivot arms, allowing it to transition from a static position to a dynamic breaking action. The pivot arms enable the breaking element to move in an arc motion, applying progressive force to the seal until it is completely broken, thereby resolving the issue of insufficient seal breaking while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The breaking element is positioned above the seal in a vertical dimension, allowing it to apply force from a different spatial direction. This vertical arrangement enables the breaking element to pierce and break the seal effectively, creating a clear flow path while maintaining the reliability of the sealing mechanism during the closed state.
2Reliability
If flexible arms are provided above the opening to enable large stroke breaking, then the seal is broken more reliably, but a relatively large force is required for opening and the package is not hygienic
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot arms are designed to provide mechanical advantage, where the user's small initial force on the breaking element is amplified by the lever action of the pivot arms to generate the large force needed to break the seal. This self-service mechanism reduces the user effort required while maintaining reliable seal breaking.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot arms act as an intermediary between the user's input force and the seal breaking action. Instead of requiring direct large force application, the pivot arms mediate the force transmission, converting small user effort into the necessary breaking force through mechanical leverage, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the user presses on parts of the pouring package that will form part of the flow path, then the seal can be broken, but contamination of the fluid occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The breaking element and its associated mechanism (pivot arms) are extracted from the flow path and positioned in a separate location above the seal. This extraction allows the user to operate the breaking mechanism without contacting the flow path or parts that will become part of the fluid pathway, thereby preventing contamination while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot arms serve as an intermediary mechanism that enables seal breaking without requiring direct user contact with the flow path. The breaking element acts as a mediator between the user's operation and the seal, allowing force application from a clean, accessible position while preventing contamination of the fluid pathway.
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
Ensures reliable and hygienic seal breaking with minimal user effort, facilitating optimal fluid outflow and reducing material thickness while maintaining package integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The pivot arms provide a certain spring force, i.e. upon exertion of an external pressure of the breaking element, the pivot arms will assist from a certain point in pressing the breaking element in the direction of the seal
Implementation Method 2
The pivot arms are preferably designed so that in the broken condition of the seal the end connected to the breaking element will be located further away from the base member than in the sealed condition
Implementation Method 3
The flexible wall portion extends at least between two opposite sides of the plate-shaped base member of the pouring element and thus covers a relatively large part of the pouring opening
Implementation Method 4
the breaking element is able and designed to act on and break the seal when an external pressure is exerted on the wall
Implementation Method 5
the breaking element does not break the seal to a sufficient degree
Data Source
AI summary
A pouring package for a fluid and a pouring element therefor, including a container provided with a pouring opening which is closed by a seal in an unopened condition of the container. The pouring package is provided with a pouring element at the location of the pouring opening, the pouring element including a breaking element configured to act on and break the seal when a pressure is exerted thereon so as to thus effect an opened condition of the container. The pouring element is provided with two pivot arms extending on either side of the breaking element. Each pivot arm is pivotally connected to the breaking element with a first end and to the pouring element with the opposite, second end. The pouring element is provided with a flexible wall portion on a side remote from the pouring opening, wherein the flexible wall portion covers only part of the pouring opening.