Refill Spout and Funnel Venting for Spill-Free Bottle Refills
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refill systems are messy and difficult to use, often leading to spillage and longer refill times due to reduced or eliminated venting, despite the desire for sustainable packaging solutions.
Innovation Solution
A closure system comprising a pour cap and a funnel that can be attached to seal openings, featuring threaded or snap connections, seals, and vents to facilitate easy pouring and prevent leakage, with the funnel detachable for use in daily-use containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a closure with reduced opening size is used on refill bottles, then spillage is reduced, but venting is reduced or eliminated requiring alternative venting actions and longer refill times
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is segmented into two separate components: a pour cap that remains on the refill bottle and a funnel that attaches to the pour cap during refilling. This segmentation allows the pour cap to maintain its small opening for spill prevention while the funnel provides a separate venting pathway, eliminating the need for alternative venting actions and reducing refill time.
Solution Approach 2:
The funnel acts as an intermediary device between the refill bottle and the target container. It mediates the refilling process by providing both a receiving opening for the product flow and a vent opening for air escape, thereby solving the venting problem without requiring changes to the pour cap design.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a closure with reduced opening size is used on refill bottles, then spillage is reduced, but the refill process becomes more complex requiring alternative venting actions
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is segmented into two separate components: a pour cap that remains on the refill bottle and a funnel that attaches to the pour cap during refilling. This segmentation allows the pour cap to maintain its small opening for spill prevention while the funnel provides a separate venting pathway, eliminating the need for alternative venting actions and reducing refill time.
Solution Approach 2:
The funnel is designed to be self-contained with both product flow and venting functions integrated into a single device. When attached to the pour cap, the funnel automatically provides the necessary venting action without requiring additional user actions or complex procedures.
3Ease of operation
If product is poured directly from refill bottle to daily use bottle, then the process is simple, but it is messy and difficult especially when openings are narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel acts as an intermediary device between the refill bottle and the target container. It mediates the refilling process by providing both a receiving opening for the product flow and a vent opening for air escape, thereby solving the venting problem without requiring changes to the pour cap design.
Solution Approach 2:
The funnel nests within the pour cap structure, with the funnel's larger opening receiving the product flow from the refill bottle and guiding it into the target container. This nested arrangement allows the funnel to control the pouring process and prevent mess while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A refill closure system to be used with bulk refill containers and targeted refill bottles in which the closure system includes a pour cap and a funnel, the funnel being sealed to the pour cap in a closed or non-use state and detached from the pour cap in a use state wherein the funnel may be inserted in a targeted refill bottle to facilitate filling of the targeted refill bottle from a bulk refill container.