Tethered Hinged Closure That Holds the Cap Open
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closures for containers do not effectively maintain the cap in an open position after initial opening, leading to user interference and inconvenience during consumption.
Innovation Solution
A closure design featuring a top panel, cylindrical wall, retention band, and frangible members that provide a visual indication of opening, along with tethers and lines of weakness to allow the cap to be maintained in an open position through interaction with the container neck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing closures are used, then the closure can be opened, but the cap cannot be maintained in an open position, causing user interference and inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The closure transitions from a static closed state to a dynamic open state through the hinge mechanism. The cap can pivot between closed and open positions, and the tether provides dynamic tension to maintain the open position. This dynamic capability allows the closure to adapt to different usage states (closed for storage, open for consumption) while maintaining reliability in each state.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether acts as an intermediary element between the cap and the container body. It mediates the force transmission when the cap is opened, providing the necessary tension to hold the cap in the open position. The frangible members also serve as intermediaries that break to release the cap from its initial sealed position while maintaining connection through the tether.
2Ease of operation
If the cap is maintained in an open position, then user interference is minimized, but the closure structure becomes more complex with tethers and hinge mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The closure components serve multiple functions: the hinge provides both the opening mechanism and the pivot point for maintaining the open position; the tether provides both the holding force and the visual indication feature through the frangible members; the frangible members provide both the initial release function and the tamper-evident visual indication. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether is implemented as a thin, flexible element that can bend and pivot with the cap movement while maintaining continuous tension. This flexible design allows the tether to accommodate the dynamic movement of the cap without requiring complex rigid linkages or multiple joints, thereby reducing overall structural complexity.
3Reliability
If frangible members are used to provide visual indication of opening, then tamper evidence is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible members are integrated with the tether and the cap assembly in a unified structure. The tether itself serves as both the holding mechanism and the visual indication element when the frangible members break. This merging of functions into a single integrated component reduces the number of separate parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining tamper-evident functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A closure includes a cap having a top wall and a skirt perpendicular to the top wall and extending downwardly from the top wall to a lower edge. The skirt includes an inner surface having a sealing formation. A band is concentric with and attached to the lower edge of the skirt by a plurality of frangible members. A tab is formed at a hinge location from the band and extending from the lower edge of the skirt to one or more lines of weakness.