Bottle Stopper Inner Lip Oblique Insertion Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bottle closure systems with short sealing skirts are prone to risks of cork displacement during transport, leading to potential scratches or chips, and existing systems do not facilitate easy closure, especially when subjected to jolts.

Innovation Solution

A bottle closure system featuring a stopper with an inner lip that projects inwardly from the outer skirt, allowing the lip to cross the fixing flange obliquely and retain the stopper, even during jolts, utilizing a thermoplastic material and a hinged cap for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a long sealing skirt is used, then the stopper is stable during transport, but the stopper is heavier and more prone to scratches or chips

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability during transportVSAvoidweight of stopper
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing skirt is divided into two functional parts: a short main body and a separate inner lip that projects inward. The inner lip can elastically deform to cross the fixing flange during insertion, then returns to its original position to provide retention, separating the insertion function from the retention function and allowing a shorter overall sealing skirt length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner lip is designed with elastic properties allowing it to dynamically deform during the insertion process. When the stopper is inserted, the inner lip elastically deforms to cross the fixing flange, then returns to its original position to engage with the flange and retain the stopper, providing adaptive retention without requiring a long sealing skirt.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Weight of moving object

If a short sealing skirt is used, then the stopper is lighter and less prone to scratches, but the stopper becomes unstable during transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of stopperVSAvoidstability during transport
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing skirt is divided into two functional parts: a short main body and a separate inner lip that projects inward. The inner lip can elastically deform to cross the fixing flange during insertion, then returns to its original position to provide retention, separating the insertion function from the retention function and allowing a shorter overall sealing skirt length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner lip's position and orientation change during insertion. When the stopper is inserted, the inner lip is positioned to cross the fixing flange, then it returns to its original position parallel to the flange plane to engage and retain the stopper, changing its spatial parameters to achieve both insertion and retention functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the inner lip inner diameter is close to the fixing flange outer diameter, then the stopper retention is strong, but the insertion becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestopper retentionVSAvoidease of insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The inner lip is designed with elastic properties allowing it to dynamically deform during the insertion process. When the stopper is inserted, the inner lip elastically deforms to cross the fixing flange, then returns to its original position to engage with the flange and retain the stopper, providing adaptive retention without requiring a long sealing skirt.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The inner lip has an asymmetric cross-section with different dimensions in different directions. The lip thickness and projection distance are optimized to allow easy crossing during insertion while providing strong retention after insertion, creating asymmetric clearance conditions that facilitate insertion but ensure retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Ease of operation

If the inner lip inner diameter is far from the fixing flange outer diameter, then the insertion is easy, but the stopper retention becomes weak

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of insertionVSAvoidstopper retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inner lip has an asymmetric cross-section with different dimensions in different directions. The lip thickness and projection distance are optimized to allow easy crossing during insertion while providing strong retention after insertion, creating asymmetric clearance conditions that facilitate insertion but ensure retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The inner lip's position and orientation change during insertion. When the stopper is inserted, the inner lip is positioned to cross the fixing flange, then it returns to its original position parallel to the flange plane to engage and retain the stopper, changing its spatial parameters to achieve both insertion and retention functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system ensures secure and reliable closure of bottles with short sealing skirts, maintaining the stopper in place even under jolts, while allowing for easy insertion and reducing the risk of scratches or chips during handling.

Implementation Method 1

The outer skirt is able to undergo a small elastic deformation, which can be described as an ovalization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a ramp presenting the stopper with the outer skirt inclined and carries the stopper thus inserted on the neck. The ramp contains a line of corks which descend by gravity to a retractable stop

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3165475B1Closing system and method for placing a lid on a bottle neck forming a closing system and closing
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 UNITED CAPS FRANCE
  • EP3165475B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3165475B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP3165475B1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

A bottle closure system (1) comprises a neck (10) and a cap (2) adapted to close an opening (100) in the neck (10). The cap (2) has an outer skirt (201) of substantially tubular shape. The outer skirt (201) has an inner lip (2010) projecting inwards towards the outer skirt (201), the inner diameter of the lip (2010) being smaller than the outer diameter of a retaining collar (31), the lip (2010) being arranged and configured such that it is able to pass through the retaining collar (31) when the plane of the lip (2010) is positioned obliquely to the plane of the retaining collar (31) and to retain the cap (2) when the plane of the lip (2010) is positioned parallel to the plane of the retaining collar (31). A method for placing a stopper (2) on a neck (10) of a bottle (1) forming such a closure system.