Spout Dispenser With Integrated Seal Ring For Impact Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional threaded caps face challenges in balancing impact tolerance and leak performance, as increasing dosage capacity above the bottle neck can compromise impact tolerance, leading to breakage, and separate seal installation can disrupt proper sealing and cause leaks.

Innovation Solution

A spout dispenser member with a central duct, an outer sidewall, and a seal ring, where the central duct and outer sidewall are made of a first material and the seal ring of a second, softer material, integrated as a single element, ensuring proper sealing and impact resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the cap's dosage capacity is increased above the end of the bottle neck, then the cap can hold more fluid dosage, but the cap's impact tolerance is compromised and it breaks more easily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosage capacityVSAvoidimpact tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is divided into multiple portions with different functions: an upper portion for holding dosage and a lower portion for impact resistance. The lower end of the upper portion has a reduced transverse dimension, creating a tapered transition zone that allows the cap to withstand impact forces while maintaining adequate dosage capacity in the upper section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a separate seal is installed between the spout and container opening, then the seal can provide sealing function, but the seal placement may be disrupted and leaking risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidseal installation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is integrated directly into the spout structure, forming a single-piece component. The seal extends from the container opening upward along the spout's exterior surface, eliminating the need for separate seal installation and ensuring proper sealing position is maintained during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the spout and seal are made as separate components, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but assembly complexity increases and proper seal placement is harder to ensure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing flexibilityVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spout and seal are combined into a single integral component manufactured as one piece. This eliminates separate assembly steps, ensures the seal is always in the correct position, and simplifies both manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining the functional benefits of having a dedicated seal structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 integrated design enhances the cap's ability to withstand impact forces while maintaining a secure seal, preventing leaks and facilitating easy assembly by ensuring proper placement of the seal ring.

Implementation Method 1

a seal ring disposed on the flange of the outer sidewall, wherein the central duct and the outer sidewall include a first material having a first durometer and the seal ring includes a second material having a second durometer less than the first durometer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

the associated container assembly includes a container having a neck having a rim defining an opening into the container and a cap removably coupled to the neck. The spout includes an outer sidewall extending around the central duct, wherein the outer sidewall is configured to engage an interior surface of the container and having an upper end and a flange projecting in a radial direction from the upper end.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact resistance:

Data Source

PatentEP3992105B1Container assembly with spout
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 HENKEL KGAA
  • EP3992105B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3992105B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3992105B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A spout (200, 600) for a container (100, 500), comprising a central duct (230, 630) defining a pouring passage (240, 640) configured to communicate with an interior of the container (100, 500) and extend through an opening (120, 520) of the container (100, 500), an outer sidewall (210, 610) extending around the central duct (230, 630), the outer sidewall (210, 610) configured to engage an interior surface (112, 512) of the container (100, 500) and having an upper end (212, 612) and a flange (614) projecting in a radial direction from the upper end; (212, 612) and a seal ring (250, 650) disposed on the flange (614) of the outer sidewall (210, 610), wherein the central duct (230, 630) and the outer sidewall (210, 610) comprise a first material having a first durometer and the seal ring (250, 650) comprises a second material having a second durometer less than the first durometer.