Tethered Container Closure Assembly With Rupturable Coupling Bridges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure assemblies for containers with pourable products face issues such as the lid becoming detached from the ring member during use, leading to inconvenience and potential littering, and there is a desire for a more efficient and cost-effective solution that minimizes strain on the ring members.
Innovation Solution
A closure assembly with coupling elements that tether the lid and ring member together, featuring coupling bridges that rupture during the first operation, and a design that includes a tamper-evidence ring and interaction devices to manage axial movement, ensuring the lid remains connected to the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lid is tethered to the ring member by a connection element, then the lid remains connected to the container preventing littering, but the strain on the ring member increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between lid and ring member is divided into multiple coupling bridges instead of a single connection element. These coupling bridges are distributed around the perimeter, distributing the strain across multiple points and reducing the force on any single point while maintaining reliable connection
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling bridges are pre-configured to rupture at a specific force threshold during first use. This preliminary action allows the system to transition from a rigid connection to a more flexible arrangement that reduces ongoing strain on the ring member while maintaining lid connection
2Ease of operation
If coupling bridges are designed to rupture during first removal, then the lid can be easily opened, but the connection between lid and ring member is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic system that changes state during use. The coupling bridges rupture during first removal to enable easy opening, while the remaining connection elements maintain the lid's connection to the ring member for continued use
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling bridges are designed to be sacrificial - they rupture and are discarded during first use to enable lid removal, while the main connection elements are recovered and retained to maintain the lid's connection to the ring member for subsequent operations
Data Source
AI summary
A closure assembly for a container filled or fillable with a pourable product, the closure assembly comprising: a collar including an outer threaded portion; a lid including inner threaded portion, wherein the inner threaded portion and the outer threaded portion are configured to allow for fastening the lid to the collar by rotating the lid relative to the collar in a first rotation direction and for loosening the lid from the collar by rotating the lid relative to the collar in a second rotation direction; a ring member; a cutting device; a control device configured to control the cutting device; one or more coupling elements, each having a first end connected to the lid and a second end connected to the ring member, wherein the first end is positioned downstream of the second end along the second rotation direction.