Rotatable Closure Reducing Hollow Chamber Volume

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hermetically sealed containers face issues with medium loss due to surface tension causing media to remain in the hollow chamber, leading to incomplete dispensing and increased manufacturing costs from mandatory funnel geometries.

Innovation Solution

The container design features opposite wall parts of the closure part displaced into the hollow chamber at a distance from the separation point, reducing the free chamber volume and preventing medium from entering the hollow chamber, allowing for flexible container shaping and reduced manufacturing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the hollow chamber is designed with a large free cross section to ensure unhindered delivery of the dispensing medium, then the delivery opening free cross section is increased, but the dispensing medium passes into the hollow chamber and cannot flow back due to surface tension, leading to medium loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunhindered delivery of dispensing mediumVSAvoiddispensing medium loss in hollow chamber
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The closure part is designed to be rotatable relative to the receiving body, transforming the static hollow chamber into a dynamic system. During rotation, the hollow chamber tilts, utilizing gravity to drain accumulated medium back into the receiving body, thereby preventing permanent medium loss while maintaining easy dispensing operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the orientation parameter of the hollow chamber by enabling rotation of the closure part. This parameter change allows the hollow chamber to transition from a horizontal position (during dispensing) to a tilted position (during draining), overcoming surface tension effects through gravitational force and preventing medium retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional blow molding is used to produce the container, then the manufacturing process is simple and cost-effective, but the medium can still settle in the hollow chamber volume and not be available for removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconventional blow molding processVSAvoiddispensing medium quantity in hollow chamber
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable closure part enables the hollow chamber to change orientation from horizontal to tilted position. This dynamic feature allows complete draining of the hollow chamber back into the receiving body after dispensing, ensuring that the full quantity of dispensing medium remains available for removal without loss in the hollow chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the wall parts of the closure part are not displaced into the hollow chamber, then the container geometry is flexible and manufacturing is cost-effective, but the free chamber volume is too large allowing medium to enter and remain trapped

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer geometry flexibilityVSAvoidtrapped medium in hollow chamber
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than reducing the hollow chamber volume through fixed wall displacements, the invention uses a dynamic approach where the closure part rotates to tilt the hollow chamber. This maintains geometric flexibility and manufacturing simplicity while preventing medium trapping through gravitational draining during the rotation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 ensures that the dispensing medium remains within the receiving body, preventing loss and allowing for precise dosing and cost-effective production with flexible container geometries.

Implementation Method 1

particularly if the fluid medium stored in the hollow chamber is retained in the hollow chamber due to its surface tension

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentEP1989117B1Container and apparatus for producing the same
Publication Date: 2012.06.13 HANSEN BERND
  • EP1989117B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP1989117B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP1989117B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a container having a hollow accommodation body (10) for accommodating a medium to be dispensed, said accommodation body having a dispensing opening (12) which issues into a hollow chamber (14) of a closure part (18) which can be detached by means of a predetermined breaking point (20). The fact that opposite wall parts (22) of the closure part (18) are forced into the hollow chamber (14) in order to reduce the free volume in the hollow chamber (14) prevents medium which is to be dispensed and is stored in the accommodation body (10) from unintentionally entering the hollow chamber (14) and then no longer being available for a removal operation. The invention also relates to an apparatus for producing a container of this kind.