Silicone Stopper Radial Contraction for Cava Bottle Pressure Seal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stoppers for cava bottles, including those made of silicone and hybrid materials, fail to achieve an optimal tight seal and are not ideal for withstanding the pressure inside cava bottles, leading to suboptimal packaging and potential loss of the drink.
Innovation Solution
A silicone stopper with a conical external shape and internal cylindrical configuration matching the bottle throat, featuring a central semi-spherical protuberance that radially deforms to create a secure, pressure-resistant seal by expanding within the bottle neck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cylindrical silicone stopper is used to close cava bottles, then the stoppering process is simplified, but the stopper cannot withstand the pressure inside the bottle and does not achieve an optimal tight seal
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper incorporates a radial contraction mechanism that activates under pressure. The conical configuration allows the stopper to dynamically adjust its dimensions, contracting radially when inserted into the bottle to create a tight seal and maintain structural integrity under internal pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper's geometric parameters are specifically optimized with a conical shape where the diameter decreases toward the closed end. This parameter variation enables the stopper to achieve optimal contact pressure distribution with the bottle throat, enhancing both seal tightness and pressure resistance while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Reliability
If the stopper diameter is made considerably greater than the bottle throat diameter, then radial contraction stabilizes the stopper and reduces porosity, but the stoppering operation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper utilizes dynamic radial contraction during insertion. The conical geometry enables the stopper to automatically contract radially as it enters the bottle throat, achieving stable positioning and reduced porosity through the contraction itself rather than requiring additional stabilization mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The closed end of the stopper features a semi-spherical protrusion that facilitates smooth insertion into the bottle throat. This curved geometry reduces friction during the stoppering operation while the radial contraction maintains stability and seals porosity once positioned.
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
The stopper achieves a perfect fit and enhanced pressure closure through elastic deformation, ensuring a tight seal and improved packaging conditions for cava bottles.
Implementation Method 1
the dimensions of the stopper itself are slightly smaller than those of the throat of the bottle, in order for it to be coupled and fixed not only by the male-female coupling effect between both elements but also by means of elastic and radial deformation of the stopper
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention comprises a one-piece body (1) in the form of a domed component, of any external geometrical configuration, which converges towards the opening (2) thereof, the inner wall of which has a profile or a generatrix that coincides with that of the bottle neck with which it has to fit tightly, a protuberance (12) of hemispherical configuration emerging downwards from the bottom of the base thereof, which projection is designed, in turn, to penetrate tightly inside the bottle neck, this coupling being facilitated by the existence of a bevel (6) at the mouth of the stopper. This results in a stopper that, despite being made from silicone, can easily be coupled to the bottle and is capable of withstanding the pressure inside the bottle without accidentally becoming detached therefrom.