Tamper-Evident Preform with Stepped Interior for Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a continuous interest in creating the lightest possible plastic container to maximize cost savings in transportation and manufacturing, while also reducing plastic waste, without compromising structural properties or ease of processing.
Innovation Solution
The development of a tamper evidence container preform with a stepped interior surface, designed to be blow-molded into a container that uses less plastic while maintaining excellent structural properties and ease of processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If plastic container wall thickness is reduced to decrease weight and plastic usage, then cost savings in transportation and manufacturing are improved, but structural integrity and strength are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The interior surface of the container is segmented into multiple stepped surfaces at different depths, creating a multi-level structure that provides structural reinforcement without increasing overall wall thickness. This segmentation allows the container to maintain strength while using less plastic material.
Solution Approach 2:
The stepped interior surfaces create localized reinforcement zones where material is concentrated at specific depths to provide structural support. Rather than uniformly thickening the entire container wall, the design applies localized quality variations to maintain strength only where needed, reducing overall plastic usage.
2Loss of substance
If plastic container wall thickness is reduced to reduce plastic waste, then environmental impact is improved, but structural integrity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The interior surface is divided into multiple stepped surfaces that provide structural reinforcement throughout the container wall, allowing for reduced overall material usage while maintaining integrity. This segmentation enables the container to achieve strength distribution without requiring uniform wall thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
Localized reinforcement zones are created through the stepped surfaces, concentrating material where structural support is needed while minimizing material usage in other areas. This approach reduces total plastic consumption and waste while preserving necessary structural properties.
3Ease of manufacture
If container design is simplified to reduce manufacturing complexity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but functionality such as tamper evidence is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper evidence band is merged with the threaded finish portion, integrating two functions (tamper evidence and closure threading) into a single integrated structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate components while maintaining both functionalities, simplifying manufacturing and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded finish portion serves multiple functions: it provides the closure attachment mechanism and simultaneously serves as the tamper evidence band. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall design and manufacturing process while maintaining reliable tamper evidence functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A preform is provided for blow-molding to form a container. The preform includes a finish portion for rotatably engaging a closure to seal contents within an interior of the container. The finish portion comprises a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to the interior and extends to and includes a tamper evidence ledge. A mirror polished sealing surface inside the finish portion cooperates with a plug seal of the closure to seal the container. Threads outside the finish portion engage with similar threads inside the closure. Thread starts of the threads reduce potential damage to the threads during installation of the closure. The thread starts may include a start pitch that is greater than a thread pitch of the threads. A handling valley disposed between the threads and the tamper evidence ledge facilitates air-conveying the container along a manufacturing assembly line.