Tethered Bottle Dispenser Cap With Hermetic Anti-Contamination Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage dispenser caps are prone to contamination due to structural slits and openings that allow external agents to enter, compromising hygiene during storage, use, and sanitization, and pose risks of suffocation and environmental pollution.

Innovation Solution

A tethered dispenser cap design with a telescopically engaged dispensing valve and a lid structure that ensures hermetic closure, featuring a central sleeve and annular seals to prevent contamination, and a locking mechanism to maintain the cap on the bottle neck, reducing the risk of separation and environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a hinge with brace-like structure and through slits is used in the lid, then the lid can rotate between open and closed positions, but the slits allow contamination of the beverage and cap surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelid rotationVSAvoidcontamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful through slits and openings in the hinge structure are removed or extracted. The hinge is redesigned to eliminate these contamination pathways while maintaining the essential rotation function between open and closed positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A protective film is introduced as an intermediary element that covers the hinge and lid surfaces. This film acts as a barrier that prevents contamination through the hinge structure while allowing the lid to rotate freely between open and closed positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a protective film is applied to cover the cap, then contamination through slits is prevented, but the complexity and cost increase and environmental impact increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecontaminationVSAvoidprotective film application
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective film is designed as a single-use, disposable element that is applied only during the critical storage and transport phases. After the first opening of the bottle, the film is intentionally removed or degraded, eliminating the need for complex removal mechanisms and reducing long-term environmental impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective film is applied in advance during the manufacturing and storage phases to prevent contamination before the product reaches the user. This preliminary protective action eliminates the need for complex ongoing protection systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If the cap is designed to be removable from the bottle neck, then ease of cleaning and replacement is improved, but the risk of cap parts being swallowed and environmental pollution increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning and replacementVSAvoidsuffocation risk and pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is designed with a tether or attachment mechanism that segments the cap from the bottle neck in a controlled manner. The cap can be easily detached for cleaning and replacement while the tether prevents complete separation and loss, thereby eliminating the suffocation risk and environmental pollution associated with lost cap parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4491535B1Bottle dispenser cap
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 ACQUA MINERALE SAN BENEDETTO SPA
  • EP4491535B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4491535B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4491535B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A bottle dispenser cap comprising: a body-base (5) comprising a sleeve (13) and a first base (13d), in which a first opening (14) is centrally formed through it, a dispensing valve (7) which is engaged within the sleeve (13) so as to slide in the latter in order to translate along the first axis (A) between a closed position and an open position, a lid (6) comprising: an annular seal (16) that is fitted stably in the body-base (5), a cap (18) and a hinge (19) connecting the cap (18) to the annular seal (16), the hinge (19) is structured to rotate the cap (18) about a second axis (B) approximately transverse to said first axis (A), between a closed and an open position, wherein in the closed position of the lid (6), the cap (18) is coupled to the body-base (5) to delimit with the latter an internal, substantially hermetically closed chamber which internally contains the dispensing valve (7) and the sleeve (13).