Container Stopper With Threaded Nut Mechanism for Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stoppers for containers, particularly wine and champagne bottles, lack control over sealing pressure and require separate opening devices, often damaging the cork during opening due to improper insertion or misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A stopper mechanism with a nut that moves axially within a guide, expanding or contracting prongs to control sealing pressure by rotating a knob, eliminating the need for external opening devices and allowing reuse of the stopper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional cork stopper is used, then the sealing function is provided, but the sealing pressure cannot be controlled and separate opening devices are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds a threaded rod mechanism inside the cork stopper, with the rod threaded through the entire length of the cork. This nested structure allows the threading mechanism to be contained within the stopper body, enabling pressure control without significantly increasing external dimensions or complexity of the stopper.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded rod acts as an intermediary element that translates rotational motion of the knob into axial linear motion, which in turn controls the expansion and contraction of the cork. This mediator mechanism enables precise pressure control through simple rotational input.
2Reliability
If a conventional cork stopper is used, then the sealing function is provided, but damage to the cork occurs during opening due to improper insertion or misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the stopper to be self-operating through the threaded rod mechanism. By rotating the external knob, the user directly actuates the internal threading system that controls cork expansion and contraction, eliminating the need for external corkscrews or opening devices that could damage the cork.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using an external device to pull or lever the cork out (which risks damage), the patent inverts the approach by having the cork itself contract through the threading mechanism to release from the bottle opening, allowing removal without external tools.
3Area of stationary object
If the plug outer diameter is made larger to fit the container mouth, then the sealing contact area increases, but the insertion force required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static cork into a dynamic structure through the threaded rod mechanism. The cork can dynamically adjust its diameter by expanding when the rod is rotated one way and contracting when rotated the other way, allowing easy insertion when contracted and secure sealing when expanded.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the cork diameter through the threading mechanism. By rotating the external knob, the axial position of the threaded rod changes, which directly alters the radial dimension of the cork, enabling control over both insertion ease and sealing pressure.
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
Provides controlled sealing pressure and easy opening of containers without damaging the cork, enabling reuse and eliminating the need for separate opening tools.
Implementation Method 1
the guide presses against the sidewalls of the plug from inside. When the knob is turned clock-wise the nut is pulled upwards toward the top and gradually opens up the prongs of the guide due to the tapered inner surface of the guide, exerting more and more pressure on the inside wall of the plug
Data Source
AI summary
A bottle stopper includes: a cylindrical guide having multiple slits that run parallel to a center axis along a portion of the guide; a cylindrical nut that is able to move along the center axis, the nut including multiple ridges, each ridge engaging a particular slit such that the nut is not able to rotate relative to the guide about the center axis; a knob coupled to a threaded bolt; and a set screw that secures the knob relative to the guide such that the guide and the knob move together as a rigid body along the center axis, where the threaded bolt is able to engage the nut such that the nut is moved along the center axis when the knob is rotated about the center axis. A method of sealing a container includes: inserting a plug and stopper; and rotating a knob to reach a specified sealing pressure.