Tethered Spout-Cap Units for Comfortable, Recyclable Pouch Drinking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single-use beverage containers face challenges in complying with EU Directive 2019/904 by preventing removable caps from being separated from the spout, recycling difficulties due to different plastic materials, and user discomfort or inefficiency in filling and drinking from existing spout-cap designs.
Innovation Solution
A spout-cap unit with a tethering member connecting the cap and spout, allowing the cap to be moved to a retaining position away from the outlet tube, made of a single material, and manufactured in a single process, ensuring easy recycling and user-friendly consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cap is separably connected to the spout, then the cap can be removed and reused, but the cap ends up in the environment and recycling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cap and spout into a single non-separable unit, eliminating the cap as a separate removable component. The cap is integrally formed with the spout body, ensuring it remains attached during use and cannot be discarded separately, thus preventing plastic waste while maintaining the functional benefits of a cap closure system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the same plastic material for both the cap and spout components, creating a homogeneous structure. This eliminates the problem of sorting different plastic materials during recycling, as the entire unit can be processed as a single material type, improving recyclability while preventing environmental contamination
2Stability of the object's composition
If a film hinge is used to connect cap and spout, then non-separable connection is achieved, but the cap pricks into the user's nose and moves back to closed position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cap and spout into a single molded unit without using a film hinge or separate connection mechanism. The cap is directly formed as part of the spout body, eliminating the hinge mechanism that causes the cap to snap back and prick the user's nose, while maintaining a stable, non-separable connection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the film hinge component entirely from the design. By extracting this problematic intermediate connection element and replacing it with a direct integral connection, the harmful snapping motion is eliminated while preserving the non-separable nature of the cap-spout assembly
3Ease of manufacture
If the cap is pushed into the cylindrical outer tube, then the spout-and-cap assembly can be sealed before filling, but the cap remains close to the outlet tube and drinking becomes uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the cap to extend radially outward from the spout body in a direction perpendicular to the outlet tube axis. This dimensional change allows the cap to be effectively removed from the drinking path while maintaining its closure function, solving the discomfort issue without compromising the pre-filling sealing capability
4Adaptability or versatility
If different plastic compositions are used for cap and spout, then functional requirements are met, but recycling becomes difficult due to sorting issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that both the cap and spout shall be made from the same plastic material, creating a homogeneous structure. This eliminates the need to sort different plastic types during recycling, making the entire unit easily recyclable while still meeting all functional requirements through appropriate material selection and design
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
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AI summary
A spout-cap unit, comprising: a spout including a sealboat, an outlet tube, a retaining member; a cap for closing the outlet tube in a closed position; wherein the spout and the cap are tethered together via at least one tethering member to form the spout-cap unit, the tethering member being connected to the spout at one end and to the cap at the opposite end, wherein the cap is releasable from the outlet tube and can be brought in a released state, wherein in said released state the cap and the spout remain tethered via the tethering member, the tethering member allowing the cap to be moved to a retaining position away from the outlet of the outlet tube, wherein the cap or tethering member can be coupled with the retaining member of the spout for retaining the cap at the retaining position.