Tethered Cap Closure Assembly With Visible Undulating Tether
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure assemblies with plastic caps do not clearly indicate that the cap body remains attached to the article after removal, leading to potential environmental contamination and user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A closure assembly design featuring a tether located between the tamper-evident ring member and the gripping ring, with undulating elongated portions that allow for a longer tether length, ensuring the cap body remains attached and can be placed further away from the neck, and a non-rotatable tamper-evident ring member connection to prevent rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tether is provided between the tamper-evident structure and the cap body, then the cap body remains attached to the article after removal, but the tether is not clearly visible and identifiable to users
Solution Approach 1:
The tether is molded in a color that contrasts with the cap body and background, making it clearly visible and identifiable to users. This visual differentiation ensures users can easily detect the tether's presence and understand its function without confusion.
2Device complexity
If the tether extends directly between the tamper-evident ring member and the gripping ring, then the structure is simple, but the tether length is insufficient for users to place the cap body away from the neck
Solution Approach 1:
The tether includes an undulating section with elongated tether portions that create a longer effective length between the tamper-evident ring member and the gripping ring. This curved, undulating configuration allows the tether to extend further without adding complex structural elements, enabling users to place the cap body at a comfortable distance from the neck.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the tether is located outside the contour of the gripping ring, then the tether is more visible, but a larger mold is required and handling during assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The tether is positioned within the contour of the gripping ring, nesting the tether structure inside the overall cap assembly. This configuration allows the tether to remain visible and identifiable while fitting within the existing mold dimensions and simplifying assembly handling, as the tether does not protrude beyond the gripping ring's outer boundaries.
4Ease of operation
If the tamper-evident ring member is rotatable with respect to the neck, then the cap body can be easily removed, but the connection point between the tamper-evident ring member and the tether moves, creating uncertainty for users
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the tamper-evident ring member and the neck is segmented into fixed joint portions that prevent rotation. This segmentation ensures the tamper-evident ring member remains stationary relative to the neck, maintaining a consistent connection point for the tether and providing users with clear visual information about the attachment location.
Data Source
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AI summary
A closure assembly which comprises a cap and an article with a neck. The plastic moulded cap being secured to the neck of the article and comprising a cap body and an integrated tamper-evident ring member. The cap body comprises an annular gripping ring which is connected to the skirt of the cap body via a spoke structure. The tamper-evident ring member is connected to the skirt by breakable bridges. The cap is further provided with a tether which extends undulating between the tamper-evident ring member and the gripping ring.