Segmented Bead Closure Reduces Capping Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plastic and metal containers with resealable lids for granular powders face issues with leakage, inadequate sealing, and difficulties in securely attaching the scoop during transportation and reattachment, leading to potential contamination and spillage.
Innovation Solution
A closure system featuring a collar with primary and secondary beads and vertical ribs that require a reduced capping force for engagement, along with a docking mechanism for the scoop to prevent loosening and facilitate easy reattachment, ensuring a secure seal and stable container orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional continuous beads are used to seal the container, then sealing reliability is improved, but capping force requirement increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous bead structure is segmented into discrete individual beads arranged in a circular pattern around the collar. Each bead acts as an independent sealing element that engages with the container rim, providing reliable sealing while reducing the total force required compared to a continuous bead structure.
2Device complexity
If the scoop is loosely placed in the container, then device complexity is reduced, but the scoop may submerge into powder during transportation requiring manual retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The scoop is pre-positioned in a docked state within the container during manufacturing, held in place by the docking mechanism. This preliminary positioning ensures the scoop is readily accessible to users while preventing it from submering into the powder during transportation, eliminating the need for manual retrieval.
3Ease of operation
If the scoop is docked on the interior surface of the closure, then the scoop remains accessible, but the container may become unbalanced during pressure application causing spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The docking mechanism is designed with asymmetric features including a recess in the collar and corresponding protrusions on the scoop handle. This asymmetric configuration creates a stable, predetermined docking position that maintains container balance during use while keeping the scoop easily accessible to users.
4Productivity
If a fully automated production line is used to apply the closure, then productivity is improved, but available capping force is reduced making many prior art closures unsuitable
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented bead structure distributes the sealing function across multiple discrete points around the collar, reducing the force required at any single point. This segmentation enables the closure to be applied using the reduced capping force available in fully automated production lines while maintaining reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
Each individual bead is designed with specific local properties including a rounded top surface and tapered sides that concentrate the sealing force locally at the bead-container rim contact point. This local quality optimization allows effective sealing with reduced overall capping force, making the closure suitable for automated production lines.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A closure (1) for a container is described where the container has an open end and a closed end, the closure being configured to engage the open end of the container, wherein the closure comprises: a collar (3) configured to engage the container; a lid (2) connected to the collar by at least one hinge; wherein to facilitate engagement the collar is configured to extend over and surround the open end of the container such that an inner surface (5) impinges on, or is immediately adjacent to, an outer surface of the open end of the container; characterised in that a plurality of beads (6, 7) extend outwardly from the inner surface (5) of the collar (3) to fixedly hold the collar in engagement with the container, wherein said beads are located substantially uniformly relative to each other and occupy less than 50% of the inner surface of the collar. A container is also described in which is provided with a docking (14) on an inner wall (5) of the collar suitable for releasably suspending a scoop (10).