Push-Break Closure Structure for Clean Flowable Product Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flowable product containers face issues with tamper-evident seals that are difficult to remove, pose injury hazards, contribute to waste, and may contaminate the product, while also complicating recycling and product leakage during transport.
Innovation Solution
A closure system with a base and lid hinged together, featuring a sealing element and a pressing element that can be displaced between operational positions to seal and break the seal with a simple push action, ensuring aseptic dispensing and controlled flow without material separation, and is recyclable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tamper-evident seals are used, then product security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into a lid and base that can be separated, with the seal integrated into the lid. The lid can be removed from the base while the seal remains attached to the lid, allowing easy separation and disposal of the seal without requiring excessive force or special tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge acts as an intermediary mechanism between the lid and base, allowing controlled movement and separation. The hinge enables the lid to be opened and removed while maintaining the integrity of the seal until the user intends to access the product.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional seals without removal means are used, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is merged with the lid as an integrated component rather than a separate element. This combination simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of separate parts while still providing easy removal capability through the lid's detachable design.
3Ease of operation
If seals with integral tabs or removal attachments are used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex tabs or attachments to the seal itself, the solution segments the closure into removable lid and base components. The seal remains simple and integrated, while the lid's removability provides the ease of operation without increasing seal complexity.
4Ease of operation
If detachable ring-pull seals are used, then ease of operation is improved, but environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed to be discarded with the lid after use, eliminating the need for separate disposal. The integrated design ensures the seal does not get lost in the environment, and the entire lid-seal assembly can be properly disposed of or recycled together as a single unit.
5Reliability
If seals are used that require excessive force to remove, then product security is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The closure transitions from a static sealed state to a dynamic removable state through the hinge mechanism. The seal provides security during transport but allows easy, controlled removal when needed, eliminating the need for excessive force that could cause injury.
6Reliability
If seals are used that may remain in place on the opening, then product security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is extracted from the base and attached to the removable lid instead. This allows the seal to be easily removed along with the lid, preventing residue from remaining on the opening and simplifying the recycling process by separating the seal from the container body.
Data Source
AI summary
A closure for a flowable product is provided. The closure comprises a base (15) and a lid (20). The base comprises a flowable product dispensing passage (30) along the longitudinal length of the base extending from a first end of the base to a second end of the base. The base further comprises a sealing element (40) configured to be coupled within the dispensing passage of the base such that the dispensing passage is sealed and the flowable product cannot pass through the dispensing passage. Additionally, the base comprises a pressing element (50) configured to be pressed and displaced between a first operational position and a second operational position such that when the pressing element is at the first operational position the pressing element does not contact with the sealing element (40) and the flowable product cannot pass through the dispensing passage, and when the pressing element is at the second operational position, the pressing element contacts and breaks the sealing element (40) and the flowable product can pass through the dispensing passage.