Rotating Cap with Frustoconical Feet for Recyclable Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottle caps fail to provide reliable sealing and easy re-closure after initial opening, often requiring separate sealing rings that break and are not recyclable, and may not maintain gas retention effectively.
Innovation Solution
A cap design featuring an inner and outer body with complementary male and female elements, a hinged flange for rotational blocking, and a frustoconical configuration that allows axial movement for sealing and re-closure, made from recyclable polyethylene to maintain gas retention and facilitate easy recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate sealing ring is used that breaks at a predetermined point, then the container can be opened, but the cap cannot be reliably re-closed and sealed again
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into an inner body and an outer body that can rotate relative to each other. The sealing function is segmented from the opening function, allowing the sealing ring to remain intact while the cap opens through rotational movement of the outer body.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap transitions from a static sealing structure to a dynamic system where the outer body rotates relative to the inner body. This dynamic mechanism allows the cap to open and close repeatedly while maintaining sealing integrity through the persistent engagement of male and female elements.
2Ease of manufacture
If a traditional plastic cap with breaking sealing ring is used, then manufacturing is simple, but the cap is not recyclable due to mixed materials
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed as two separable bodies (inner and outer) that can be easily separated for recycling. This segmentation allows each component to be processed independently, facilitating material recovery and recycling while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables easy separation and recovery of cap components for recycling. The male and female elements can be disassembled, allowing the materials to be recovered and reused, thus eliminating the recyclability problem of traditional mixed-material caps.
3Reliability
If a sealing ring is separated and held next to the bottle neck, then opening is indicated, but gas retention is not maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic rotational mechanism allows the cap to indicate opening status through its position while maintaining the sealing ring's engagement with the container neck. The sealing function persists even when opened, preventing gas loss while providing clear opening indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing action continues even when the cap is opened. The sealing ring remains engaged with the container neck throughout the opening and closing operations, maintaining continuous sealing functionality and gas retention while allowing repeated access.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a cap designed to be coupled to the neck of a container. The cap comprises an inner body (1) and an outer body (2, 2') coupled around the inner body (1), the rotation of the outer body (2, 2') causing same to move in an axial direction with respect to the inner body (1). The inner body (1) comprises a peripheral skirt (7) having a lower part split into a plurality of feet (8). The feet (8) comprise outer surfaces that form a frustoconical shape with a sloped generatrix (10) converging upwards, and inner surfaces with projections (11) that delimit a circular hollow. The cap also comprises a sealing device (14) for preventing the rotation of the outer body (2) with respect to the inner body (1).