Push-Button Closure Score Line for Low-Force Vacuum Opening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container closures require excessive force to open due to large tear panels and are difficult to open under negative pressure conditions, such as when a vacuum is created in glass jars during cooling.
Innovation Solution
A container closure with a force concentrating construction that includes a limited container opening defined by a score line, where the score line is structured to separate the body portions by a minor distance, allowing for minimal force application to open the closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a large tear panel is used in container closures, then the opening area is sufficient for access, but the force required to open the closure becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The tear panel is segmented into multiple sections separated by score lines, allowing the panel to be divided into smaller sections that can separate progressively. This segmentation reduces the force needed to initiate opening while maintaining sufficient total opening area for access.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure structure incorporates localized features such as push buttons or force concentrating elements at specific positions on the tear panel. These local features concentrate the applied force to critical points, enabling easier initiation of the tearing process without requiring excessive overall force.
2Reliability
If a vacuum is created in glass jars during cooling, then the sterilization process is effective, but the closure becomes difficult to open
Solution Approach 1:
Score lines are pre-formed in the closure material during manufacturing, creating predetermined weak points that will fail at low stress. This preliminary action ensures that when the container is later opened under vacuum conditions, the closure will separate easily along these pre-defined paths without requiring excessive force to overcome the vacuum seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties at the score line locations are modified during manufacturing to create zones of reduced strength or increased flexibility. This parameter change allows the closure to transition from a strong sealed state during vacuum storage to an easily separable state during opening, resolving the contradiction between maintaining vacuum integrity and enabling easy opening.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A container closure (10) includes a generally planar body (12) having a product side (14) and a customer side (16). The container closure body (12) defines a limited container opening (20) and an actuation location (620). Further, the container body (12) includes a force concentrating construction (200) disposed adjacent the limited container opening (20).