Tethered Container Closure Assembly With Non-Interfering Lid Lock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing closure assemblies for containers with pourable products face issues such as lids detaching from the ring member, leading to inconvenience and potential littering, and interference with the pouring outlet during use.

Innovation Solution

A closure assembly with coupling elements that tether the lid to the ring member, allowing for minimal strain during operation, and a design that prevents the lid from interfering with the pouring outlet by arranging it in a temporary locking position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the lid is disconnected from the ring member to allow easy opening, then the opening operation becomes simpler, but the lid detaches and causes inconvenience and potential littering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening operationVSAvoidlid retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-arranging the lid in a temporary locking position where it is held away from the pouring outlet by the coupling element. This preliminary positioning prevents the lid from interfering with the pouring process while maintaining connection to the ring member, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and lid retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the lid is tethered to the ring member to prevent detachment, then the lid remains connected, but the tethered lid may interfere with the pouring outlet during pouring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelid retentionVSAvoidpouring interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the contradiction by changing the spatial dimension of the lid position. Instead of having the lid directly above or near the pouring outlet, the coupling element positions the lid in a different spatial location (temporary locking position) where it remains connected to the ring member but does not interfere with the pouring flow, thus eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the lid is arranged in a temporary locking position away from the pouring outlet, then pouring is facilitated, but additional structural elements are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepouring processVSAvoidclosure assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it tethers the lid to the ring member to prevent detachment, positions the lid in the temporary locking position to facilitate pouring, and maintains structural simplicity. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving the desired pouring facilitation without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4422981B1Closure assembly for a container and container having a closure assembly
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
  • EP4422981B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4422981B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4422981B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is described a closure assembly (3) for a container (1) filled or fillable with a pourable product, the closure assembly (3) comprising: a collar (14) including an outer threaded portion; a lid (8) including inner threaded portion, wherein the inner threaded portion and the outer threaded portion are configured to allow for fastening the lid (8) to the collar (14) by rotating the lid (8) relative to the collar (14); a ring member (9); a cutting device (18); a control device configured to control the cutting device (18); one or more coupling elements (101, 102), each having a first end (101A, 102A) connected to the lid (8) and a second end (101B, 102B) connected to the ring member (9), wherein the lid (8), in the open condition, is rotatable about a twisting axis (H) so to be arrangeable in a temporary locking position, in which the first rim (27) of the lid (8) rests, at least partially, against said outer threaded portion (140) of the collar (14).