Re-closable Beverage Can Cap With Pivoting Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a low-cost, re-closeable cap that can easily be outfitted on beverage cans to prevent contamination and control beverage flow, while also providing hygienic protection during transit and allowing for easy recycling by remaining attached to the can throughout the distribution and consumption process.
Innovation Solution
A unibody re-closeable cap with a static and dynamic structure, featuring a cap rim and plate, an eccentric switch mechanism, and a swinging cover element, which can be permanently or removable attached to the can, providing a secure seal and easy access to the can contents, and is designed for efficient recycling by staying attached to the can.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a re-closeable cap is designed with complex mechanisms to enable easy opening and closing for consumers, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into two functional segments: a static structure that remains attached to the can and provides the opening mechanism, and a dynamic cover element that pivots to cover and uncover the opening. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the static structure provides mechanical advantage for easy opening while the dynamic element provides simple covering motion.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the consumer perform the complex action of opening a traditional sealed can, the cap is designed so that the can itself provides the opening mechanism through its interaction with the static structure. The consumer simply needs to lift the dynamic cover element, inverting the traditional approach where the container requires complex consumer manipulation to open.
2Reliability
If a re-closeable cap is designed to provide effective contamination protection and beverage flow control, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The static structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it attaches the cap to the can, provides the opening mechanism through its interaction with the can's rim, and maintains the closed position of the dynamic cover element. The dynamic cover element itself provides both contamination protection by covering the opening and beverage flow control by allowing selective access. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
3Ease of operation
If a re-closeable cap is designed to be easily removable by consumers for personal use, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of substance increases as caps are discarded
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed to remain attached to the can throughout its entire lifecycle, providing continuous service. The static structure's attachment mechanism ensures the cap travels with the can from manufacturing through distribution to consumer use and eventual disposal. This eliminates the need for consumers to remove and discard caps, as the cap serves its protective function throughout and is automatically disposed of with the can in recycling streams.
4Ease of manufacture
If a unibody construction is used to reduce manufacturing cost and simplify production, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the adaptability to provide both static and dynamic structures decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The unibody construction incorporates a dynamic element through a pivot connection that allows the cover portion to rotate between covering and uncovered positions. The static structure provides the fixed attachment points and opening mechanism, while the dynamic cover element responds to consumer interaction. This dynamic capability is integrated into the single-piece construction through strategic placement of pivot points and cut lines, allowing the cap to adapt its configuration based on operational needs while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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
The cap effectively prevents contamination, controls beverage flow, and enhances hygiene by providing a secure seal and easy access, while ensuring a high percentage of caps enter the recycling process as they remain attached to the cans from manufacturing to disposal.
Implementation Method 1
an eccentric switch mechanism, and a swinging cover element
Data Source
AI summary
A re-closeable cap is outfitted upon an upper portion of a beverage can or a series of beverage cans in a multi-pack arrangement for providing a protective barrier atop opened beverage cans. The re-closeable caps include a unibody material construction particularly configured to comprise a cap rim and a cap plate centrally located relative to the cap rim. The cap rim attaches the re-closeable cap to a can rim. The cap plate includes a static portion and at least one dynamic portion all formed from the unibody material construction with complex upper surface landscape and cut lines. The dynamic portions are pivotal relative to the static structure for providing a can-opening access aperture for enabling a user to consume can contents and closing the can-opening access aperture for enabling the user to cover the can opening during contents consumption.