Tethered Cap and Spout Assembly for Seal Puncture and Cap Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing caps for containers are prone to being mislaid or lost after opening, preventing re-closure and compromising container integrity.
Innovation Solution
A tethered cap and spout combination featuring a tether mechanism with a hinge and radial or downward tab that keeps the cap away from the container opening, incorporating a camming and cutting mechanism to puncture seals and maintain the cap's position during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional cap and spout assembly is used, then the structure is simple, but the cap can detach or roll away causing safety hazards and loss of contents
Solution Approach 1:
The tether is nested within the cap assembly, with the tether passing through the cap body and securing mechanism integrated into the cap structure. This nesting approach ensures the tether remains attached to the cap while allowing the cap to be removed from the bottle, preventing loss or safety hazards without requiring a completely separate tether system
Solution Approach 2:
The tether acts as an intermediary element between the cap and the bottle, creating a physical connection that allows the cap to be detached for access while preventing complete separation. The tether mediates the relationship between cap removal needs and containment safety, enabling controlled access while maintaining security
2Ease of operation
If the cap is designed to be easily removable for access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the cap may be accidentally lost or left behind
Solution Approach 1:
The tether system provides dynamic connectivity, allowing the cap to move freely for removal and installation while maintaining a flexible connection that prevents complete separation. The tether length and flexibility enable natural cap handling movements while ensuring the cap remains attached to the assembly, accommodating user operations without restricting motion
3Ease of operation
If the spout is designed to be accessible, then the ease of operation is improved, but foreign objects can enter the container
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is extracted as a separate, removable component from the cap assembly, allowing the spout to be independently positioned or removed. This extraction enables the spout to be pulled forward for access while the cap remains on the bottle, providing access control while preventing foreign objects from entering when the spout is in its retracted or covered position
4Ease of manufacture
If the cap and spout are separate components, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the overall assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: cap body, spout, and tether, each manufactured separately for ease of fabrication. These segmented components are then assembled through standardized connection points, with the tether integrating the cap and bottle while allowing independent manufacturing of each part
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are tethered cap and spout combinations. The tethered cap and spout combinations prevent loss of the cap after opening. In an implementation, the tethered cap and spout combinations may provide mechanisms for puncturing or opening a seal that may be present at a throat or neck of the container which provides both an anti-tampering and freshness function. In an implementation, the tethered cap and spout combinations may provide anti-tampering mechanisms. In an implementation, the tethered cap and spout combinations may provide mechanisms to hold an opened and tethered cap away from the container opening during use.