Tethered Closure System with Compressed Tether Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure systems with tamper-evident bands and tethers often result in the closure shell and tamper-evident band forming separate components, which can interfere with container opening and closing, and do not provide a convenient handle for carrying until the container is opened, posing handling issues during manufacturing and distribution.
Innovation Solution
A closure system with a tamper-evident band and tether that, upon first opening, forms an unattached tether allowing the closure shell to be securely positioned away from the container opening and offering a protruding handle, while also allowing re-closing options that adjust the tether's position to either encircle the shell or protrude as a handle, utilizing multiple angularly distributed engagement options between the closure shell and container neck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a long tether is used to connect the closure shell to the tamper-evident band, then the closure shell is positioned away from the container opening, but the tether naturally adopts a curved shape due to memory effect, slightly biasing the closure shell towards the container opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the tether by applying a longitudinal compression force during formation, creating a compressed state that modifies the memory effect. This allows the tether to be formed in a compressed configuration that resists the natural curved shape, enabling precise positioning of the closure shell away from the container opening without unwanted bias towards the opening.
2Ease of operation
If the closure shell is unscrewed for the first time to uncover the container opening, then the frangible connections break forming an unattached tether, but the closure shell and tamper-evident band form two separated individual components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the tether as an intermediary element that maintains a physical connection between the closure shell and the tamper-evident band after the frangible connections break. This intermediary tether prevents the closure shell from completely separating from the container assembly, ensuring reliability while still allowing the container to be opened.
3Ease of operation
If a short tether or pair of opposite short tethers is used, then the closure shell is held in a secure position out of the container opening projection, but the tether does not provide a convenient handle for carrying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the tether dynamically configurable through a reclosing mechanism that allows the tether to transition between different states. When the closure shell is reclosed, the tether can be configured to protrude as a handle for carrying, providing versatility. When the closure is opened, the tether maintains the closure shell in a secure position away from the opening.
4Ease of operation
If the tether is manually folded outwards before reclosing, then the tether does not surround the bottle mouth to form a lifting ring, but the user must manually manipulate the tether
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the reclosing operation itself automatically configures the tether into the appropriate state. When the closure shell is reclosed, the mechanism automatically positions the tether to protrude as a handle, eliminating the need for manual folding or manipulation by the user. The system handles its own configuration.
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
The system effectively prevents the closure shell from interfering with the container opening and provides a convenient handle for carrying only after the first opening, while ensuring easy re-closure with the tether adopting different exposed states for handling and encircling positions, enhancing user convenience and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the frangible connections break forming an unattached tether preventing the closure shell and the tamper-evident band to form two separated individual components
Implementation Method 2
the exposed tether is affected by a memory effect that makes it to naturally adopt a curved shape (due to the original circumferential arch shape that the strip of material, that later will determine the tether, has in the manufactured closure)
Implementation Method 3
a closure system combining a threaded closure and a matching container threaded neck portion
Data Source
Figure 1a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~5c
AI summary
A closure system (100) comprising a container neck portion (1) and a closure (2) both with tread formations offering multiple angular distributed mutual engagement options. The closure (2) has a closure shell (20) and a tamper-evident band (24) connected through frangible connections (31a, 32a) that break when the closure shell (20) is fully unengaged for the first time forming an unattached tether (33). The tamper-evident band (24) and a lodging section (15) of the container neck portion (1) are configured to provide for a strong grip between them, so as to impede the free rotation of the tamper-evident band (24) during the first and subsequent opening operations of the container neck portion, and specific optimal sizing for the tether (33) are selected, such that the closure system offers the user different re-closing options, at least one of which forces the tether to adopt an exposed state determining a protruding handle.