Resealable Moisture-Tight Container Cap With Integrated Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging solutions for moisture-sensitive and oxygen-sensitive items fail to provide a reliable, low-cost moisture tight seal, leading to potential degradation and reduced shelf-life.
Innovation Solution
A container and cap combination featuring a moisture impervious layer attached to the cap, which forms a seal with a fixed surface on the container, utilizing a compressible gasket or raised rings to create a moisture barrier, potentially eliminating the need for additional moisture impervious layers and ensuring a low moisture vapor transmission rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a moisture impervious layer is attached to the cap to form a seal with the container top, then moisture barrier performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the moisture impervious layer with the cap structure by attaching it to the inner surface of the cap. This merging approach integrates the barrier function into the existing cap component, providing moisture protection while avoiding the need for separate barrier components, thus improving moisture barrier performance without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction where the cap assembly includes multiple functional layers: the cap structure itself, the attached moisture impervious layer, and the compressible gasket material. This composite approach allows each layer to perform its specific function (structural support, moisture blocking, sealing) while working together as an integrated moisture barrier system.
2Reliability
If a compressible gasket is used to form the seal, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies particular parameters for the compressible gasket material, including density range (0.02 to 0.06 grams per cubic centimeter) and compression set properties, to optimize the balance between sealing performance and manufacturing cost. By defining specific parameter ranges, the invention achieves reliable sealing while controlling material costs through precise material selection criteria.
3Reliability
If multiple layers (moisture impervious layer and gasket) are used, then moisture tightness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different locations and functions within the seal assembly. The moisture impervious layer provides barrier properties at the contact surface with the container rim, while the compressible gasket provides sealing pressure and conformability in the sealing interface. This local differentiation of material qualities allows each layer to perform its specific function efficiently, achieving moisture tightness through functional specialization rather than uniform material properties throughout.
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 solution effectively maintains a moisture-free environment, as demonstrated by reduced weight gain in containers over time under high humidity conditions, extending the shelf-life of sensitive goods while maintaining a low-cost and efficient packaging process.
Implementation Method 1
The gasket can be composed of a compressible member having a top attached to the inside of the lid and a bottom attached to a moisture impervious layer. The compressible member can have a low moisture transmission rate
Implementation Method 2
The compressible member can be a foam or foam-like material such as a quick recovery, resilient, polyurethane foam
Implementation Method 3
a moisture impervious layer attached to the inside of the lid, the lid capable of forming a seal with the container top, the moisture impervious layer situated so that when the lid forms a seal with the container top the moisture impervious layer contacts the fixed surface to form a moisture barrier
Data Source
AI summary
A substantially moisture-tight unit for packaging moisture-sensitive items. The unit includes a container and cap. The container has a closed container bottom, a container top, a sidewall extending upwardly from the container bottom to the container top and a fixed surface at, or near, the container top. The unit also includes a cap. The cap has a lid and a moisture impervious layer attached to an inside portion of the lid. The lid can snap onto the container to hold the moisture impervious layer against a fixed surface forming a moisture barrier.