Spout Stopper With Breakable Seal And Pull Ring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional reclosable spout closures for packaging containers require complex unsealing actions, involving cap removal, opening, and resealing, which can confuse consumers.

Innovation Solution

A spout closure system with a spout tube integrated into the pouring hole and a breakable sealed partition, where the cap is detachably inserted and sealed with a pull ring, allowing for simple and hygienic unsealing, and featuring a conductive layer for induction heating and an air hole for evacuation, ensuring a secure and compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional reclosable spout closure is used, then the spout can be sealed and reclosed, but the unsealing process becomes complex and confusing for consumers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidunsealing operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spout closure is divided into separate functional components: a cap for covering, a pull ring for actuation, and a breakable sealed partition for sealing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the user interaction while maintaining reliable sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealed partition is pre-formed and integrated into the spout structure before use. The cap is pre-positioned to cover the spout opening. These preliminary preparations eliminate the need for complex assembly or manipulation during unsealing, requiring only a simple pull action to break the pre-formed seal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple unsealing actions are required, then complete sealing can be achieved, but user complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing integrityVSAvoidunsealing mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cap and the sealed partition are merged into an integrated assembly where the cap contains the sealed partition at its base. The pull ring is integrated with the cap structure. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the unsealing mechanism to a single pull action that simultaneously breaks the seal and opens the spout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealed partition is extracted as a distinct breakable component within the cap structure, separated from the main container body. This extraction allows the seal to be broken independently by pulling the cap, without requiring manipulation of the container or spout structure itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the cap is detachably inserted in the spout tube, then reclosing is enabled, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereclosing functionVSAvoidspout closure structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is nested within the spout tube structure, with the sealed partition nested within the cap. The pull ring is integrated into the cap assembly. This nested arrangement allows the cap to be detachably inserted into the spout tube while maintaining a compact overall structure, enabling reclosing without adding significant structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 solution enables efficient and simple unsealing, secure sealing, and compact design, ensuring easy pouring and reclosing while maintaining hygiene and oxygen barrier properties, reducing user complexity and enhancing packaging efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a conductive layer for induction heating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInduction heating: Induction Heating

Implementation Method 2

an air hole for evacuation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvacuation: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentEP2508432B1Packaging container manufacturing method, spout stopper, and packaging container
Publication Date: 2015.07.15 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
  • EP2508432B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(F)
  • EP2508432B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2508432B1 patent drawingFigure 4(A)~5

AI summary

Disclosed are a spout stopper with easy open and close operation when being opened or closed, a packaging container, and a packaging container manufacturing method. The spout stopper comprises a spout (10) further comprising a spout tube (5) and base portion (6), formed by injection molding and disposed upon a spout hole (42) of a packaging container that is formed from a webbing laminate packaging material; a sealed partition (9) of the packaging container that is capable of being ruptured; and a cap (11) that covers the spout. The cap is inserted upon the spout tube in a detachable manner, and comprises a bottom partition (25), which is partially fused upon the sealed partition (9) such that the sealed partition (9) is capable of being ruptured by the cap, and a pull ring (27), which is for pulling up on the cap (11).