Resealable Pouring Element Anchor Ring Tamper-Evident Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing resealable pouring elements for composite packages require significant assembly effort and space due to complex tamper-evident seal mechanisms, and often result in loose plastic parts when opened.
Innovation Solution
A resealable pouring element design featuring an anchor ring connected to the screw cap via a hinge, with a tamper-evident seal that breaks at a predetermined point when the screw cap is unscrewed, allowing for reliable indication of initial opening without a fixed connection to the fastening flange, and ensuring the anchor ring remains connected for stability and resealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plate is moulded onto the screw cap with pins for tamper-evident seal, then the tamper-evident function is achieved, but the assembly effort increases due to caulking work step and space is consumed on the fastening flange
Solution Approach 1:
The indicating element is extracted from the fastening flange area and repositioned to hang from the screw cap itself. The element is integrated into the screw cap structure, eliminating the need for separate fastening flange modifications and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining tamper-evident functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The tamper-evident indicating element is merged with the screw cap structure. The element is formed as an integral part of the screw cap, combining the sealing function and indicating function into a single integrated component that simplifies both assembly and manufacturing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a plate with pins is used for tamper-evident seal, then the connection between screw cap and base element is established, but space on the fastening flange is required and caulking process is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The indicating element transitions from a two-dimensional plate configuration on the fastening flange to a three-dimensional hanging element that extends vertically from the screw cap. This dimensional change eliminates the need for fastening flange space while maintaining connection stability through the hinge mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicating element is designed as a thin, flexible component that can be easily formed and integrated into the screw cap. This flexible design allows the element to hang freely when detached, providing visual indication without requiring rigid fastening flange modifications.
3Reliability
If the indicating element is fixedly connected to the fastening flange, then the tamper-evident indication is reliable, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The indicating element serves itself by being integrated into the screw cap structure. The element automatically provides tamper-evident indication through its own positioning and detachment mechanism, eliminating the need for separate fastening flange modifications and simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicating element is pre-positioned and integrated into the screw cap during manufacturing. This preliminary integration ensures that the element is already in its correct functional position before assembly, eliminating the need for complex assembly operations and ensuring reliable tamper-evident indication from the start.
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
This design simplifies assembly, prevents loose parts, and provides reliable tamper evidence and resealing functionality, allowing the pouring element to be freely rotated while open, with controlled friction for unobstructed pouring.
Implementation Method 1
an anchor ring is arranged below the screw cap and is connected to the screw cap via a hinge in a rotationally fixed manner
Implementation Method 2
the other end is connected to the anchor ring or screw cap by means of a predetermined breaking point in such manner that the predetermined breaking point of at least one mandrel element arranged on the fastening flange is broken when the screw cap is unscrewed
Implementation Method 3
allowing the pouring element to be freely rotated while open, with controlled friction for unobstructed pouring
Data Source
AI summary
Represented and described is a resealable pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packages, in particular beverage packages, with a base element having a circumferential fastening flange as well as an external thread, with opening means arranged at least in the unopened state of the pouring element in the interior of the base element and with a screw cap with internal thread, wherein the opening means are designed such that when the composite package is initially opened by unscrewing the screw cap by breaking the composite material of the package or a barrier layer located in the base element, a pour opening is created inside the pouring element and wherein at least one tamper-evident seal is arranged between the base element and the screw cap. In order to reduce the assembly effort for such a resealable pouring element, it is provided that an anchor ring is arranged below the screw cap and is connected to the screw cap via a hinge a rotationally fixed manner and in that the tamper-evident seal consists of an indicating element, whose one end is fixedly connected to the anchor ring or the screw cap and in which the other end is connected to the anchor ring by means of a predetermined breaking point in such manner that the predetermined breaking point of at least one mandrel element arranged on the fastening flange is broken when the screw cap is unscrewed and thus indicates to the consumer that an initial opening has already taken place.