Rotating Collar Cap Prevents Product Build-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aerosol container caps suffer from product build-up around the aperture, leading to clogging and sanitation concerns, and lack a mechanism to prevent actuator access in the closed position or indicate tampering.
Innovation Solution
A cap design featuring a shroud with a rotating collar and removable tab that minimizes rotation before removal, preventing actuator access in the closed position and indicating use or tampering through a frangible connector and audible clicks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cap allows free rotation of the collar, then ease of operation is improved, but product build-up around the aperture increases leading to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is pre-configured with discrete rotational positions (open and closed) defined by engagement features such as ribs and grooves. This preliminary structural arrangement guides the user to rotate the collar only to specific positions, preventing random rotation that could cause product build-up while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive positioning.
2Ease of operation
If the actuator is accessible in the closed position, then ease of operation is improved, but unintended dispensing and sanitation concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cap structure implements different accessibility qualities for different components. The actuator is positioned such that it is accessible when the collar is in the open position, but becomes inaccessible when the collar rotates to the closed position. This local differentiation of accessibility resolves the contradiction by allowing easy operation when needed while preventing unintended dispensing when closed.
3Device complexity
If the cap lacks a tamper indication mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap incorporates a self-indicating mechanism where the collar's rotational position itself serves as the tamper indication. When the collar is rotated from its initial position, the change in position (visible through positioning features or indicators) automatically indicates that the cap has been opened or tampered with, eliminating the need for separate complex tamper indication mechanisms while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cap for a container that stores and dispenses fluids or gels that includes a shroud having a shroud wall surrounding an opening and a collar connected on the shroud so that the collar selectively rotates relative to the shroud, is provided. The collar is rotatable between a closed position and an open position. The actuator is connected to the shroud, and has a contact portion. The contact portion is in the opening of the shroud. The actuator is movable in the closed position and the open position by a force that is applied to the contact portion only after removal of a tab.