Plastic-Free Bottle With Silicone Collar Thread Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Producing plastic-free bottles with stainless steel containers and silicone collars is complex and costly due to the difficulty in achieving precise thread finishes and tolerances, and using plastic collars introduces new issues with elasticity and sealing.
Innovation Solution
The use of a silicone collar with a stainless steel annular support ring to resist radial expansion, combined with thicker dimensions and varying hardness levels in the silicone material, ensures a secure and watertight seal with the metal container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stainless steel collar with steel threads is used to mate with the container portion, then the sealing reliability and structural strength are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to difficulty in achieving necessary surface finishes and tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from steel to silicone for the collar, fundamentally altering the threading mechanism. Silicone's elastic properties allow for thread engagement without requiring the tight tolerances and surface finishes needed for steel-on-steel threading, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining sealing reliability through the material's inherent elasticity and seal-forming capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining silicone with an embedded stainless steel ring. The silicone provides elastic sealing and easy threading, while the embedded steel ring reinforces the collar structurally, allowing it to withstand tightening forces without deforming. This composite approach achieves both reliability and ease of manufacture by combining the advantages of different materials
2Ease of manufacture
If the collar is made from softer silicone material to reduce manufacturing complexity, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the collar may expand radially when tightened, potentially compromising the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds a rigid stainless steel ring within the softer silicone collar. The steel ring acts as a structural backbone that resists radial expansion during tightening, while the silicone matrix maintains the benefits of ease of manufacture and sealing. This composite structure balances softness for manufacturing with rigidity for dimensional stability
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is segmented into functional zones: the embedded steel ring provides structural support and prevents radial expansion, while the silicone portions maintain elasticity for sealing and thread engagement. This segmentation allows different parts of the collar to perform specialized functions, with the steel ring specifically addressing the radial stability issue
3Device complexity
If plastic collars are used to simplify manufacturing, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but new issues arise with elasticity control and sealing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to silicone, which offers superior elastic properties for sealing. Silicone's ability to deform and rebound provides reliable sealing contact with the container opening, addressing the sealing performance issue while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes through molding techniques
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 configuration allows for a smooth, leak-proof connection between the silicone collar and metal container, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while eliminating plastic exposure.
Implementation Method 1
silicone is softer and/or more elastic than typical steels or plastics
Implementation Method 2
the stainless steel annular support ring is positioned around and radially outward of the second thread in order to resist expansion of the annular wall in response to the second thread being tightened against the first thread
Implementation Method 3
a second thread extending radially inward from the annular wall, the second thread configured to threadingly engage the first thread of the neck portion of the container portion
Implementation Method 4
the second thread configured to threadingly engage the first thread of the neck portion of the container portion in order to cause the annular ridge portion to force the lower sealing surface or portion of the silicone mouthpiece portion against the lip of the neck portion of the container portion, to seal the silicone mouthpiece portion to the container portion
Data Source
AI summary
A bottle includes a container portion, a mouthpiece portion, and an annular portion configured to threadingly engage the container portion to seal the mouthpiece portion to the container portion. The mouthpiece portion can comprise a first silicone material having a first hardness, and the annular portion can comprise a second silicone material having a second hardness that is harder than the first hardness. The bottle can also include an annular support portion coupled to and extending circumferentially around the annular portion.