Sift-Resistant Dispensing Closure with Integrated Sealing Deck

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dispensing closures in the spice and seasoning markets are prone to sifting and product build-up, leading to leakage and freshness issues, and require a sealed liner that increases production costs.

Innovation Solution

A sift-resistant dispensing closure design featuring a base, lid, and hinge with a sift deck and sealing mechanisms that eliminate the need for a sealed liner, incorporating a skirt, snap beads, and sealing surfaces to form a seal around the sift deck, allowing for cost-effective production and preventing product build-up.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealed liner is used between the container and closure, then product leakage during shipment and storage is prevented, but production costs increase and the container becomes prone to sifting after the liner is removed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct containmentVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the sealed liner from the packaging system by integrating its sealing function directly into the closure structure through the sift deck and sealing means, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining containment reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the sealing function with the closure structure by incorporating the sift deck with sealing means directly into the closure, combining multiple functions (sealing, sifting prevention, and closure) into a single integrated component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the container is opened by removing the sealed liner, then product access is enabled, but the container becomes prone to sifting and leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct accessVSAvoidsift resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention prepares the closure structure in advance by pre-configuring the sift deck with sealing means and the lid with complementary sealing engagement features, so that sift resistance is automatically maintained when the lid is closed, eliminating the need for a separate liner

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If traditional dispensing closures are used, then product dispensing is enabled, but product build-up on the closure deck occurs over time interfering with closure function

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct dispensingVSAvoidclosure function

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies a concave curvature to the sift deck surface, causing product to slide back into the container rather than accumulate on the deck, thereby maintaining closure function over time while enabling continuous dispensing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS11548699B2Sift-resistant dispensing closure

Publication Date: 2023.01.10 WEATHERCHEM CORP

AI summary

A sift-resistant dispensing closure is disclosed. The sift-resistant dispensing closure includes a base, a lid, and a hinge connecting the lid to the base. The base contains a circular end wall, a cylindrical skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall, and a sift deck elevated from the upside of the circular end wall. The sift deck contains a deck surface surrounded by a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, and pouring holes formed on the deck surface. The lid contains a second snap bead and a second sealing surface that are formed on the underside of the lid and engage with the first snap bead and first sealing surface, respectively, to form a seal around the sift deck when the lid is in a closed position.