Two-Component Container Stopper Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure devices for containers, particularly glass bottles, face challenges in achieving optimal fit and tightness due to dimensional variations, and are not suitable for glass containers as they require precise dimensioning of the container opening.
Innovation Solution
A closure device with a chamber designed using a two-component injection molding process, where the end face facing the chamber interior is made entirely from soft plastic for sealing properties, and the chamber can be radially expanded to increase volume, allowing for adaptation to different container sizes and accommodating dimensional deviations in glass bottles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closure device with uniform single-material sealing plane is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the sealing performance is insufficient for glass containers with dimensional variations
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing plane is constructed from at least two different materials: a softer material (such as silicone rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or polyethylene) and a harder material (such as polypropylene or polystyrene). This composite structure allows the softer material to deform and adapt to dimensional variations in glass container openings, ensuring reliable sealing, while the harder material provides structural support. This resolves the contradiction by improving sealing performance through material diversity without requiring complex multi-component assembly structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing plane features localized material differentiation where the peripheral sealing region is made of softer material to conform to container opening variations, while the central region uses harder material for structural integrity. This local quality variation allows the sealing structure to simultaneously achieve adaptability to dimensional deviations and mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and structural simplicity.
2Quantity of substance
If the chamber volume is increased to accommodate more liquid, then the holding capacity improves, but the fit precision on the container opening deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device is segmented into functionally distinct regions: a peripheral sealing region with softer material for adapting to container opening variations, and a central chamber region for liquid storage. This segmentation allows the sealing zone to independently accommodate dimensional variations while the chamber volume can be optimized for maximum liquid capacity, resolving the contradiction between volume and fit precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The material hardness parameter is varied across the sealing plane, with the peripheral region using softer material (lower hardness) to deform and adapt to container opening dimensional variations, while the chamber maintains its structural dimensions for optimal volume. This parameter change in material properties allows the system to achieve both large chamber volume and precise fit on varied container openings.
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 ensures a secure and efficient sealing mechanism that is not dependent on precise container dimensioning, allowing for effective closure of glass bottles with dimensional variations, while also increasing the holding volume of the chamber.
Implementation Method 1
the soft plastic has sealing properties in conjunction with the closure means and the opening-side wall sections of the chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
A closure device (1) for a container (2) comprises a lid element (4) for closing the container opening (3), a chamber (6) arranged on the lid element (4), and an inner housing (5). The chamber (6) and the inner housing (5) have corresponding closure means (7) and opening means (9) which interact with each other such that a drain opening (8) associated with the chamber (6) can be released by moving the lid element (4) relative to the inner housing (5). A medium stored in the chamber (6) can then escape into the container (2). The chamber (6) and the inner housing (5) each have corresponding first threaded means (10) formed with respect to a threaded axis of rotation (19). The closure means (7) have a soft plastic (20) radially outside and a hard plastic (21) radially inside in a sealing plane with respect to the chamber wall.