Threaded Metal Bottle Neck With Plastic Outsert for Twist-Off Resealing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current metal beverage containers with pry-off or rolled-on neck finishes are prone to damage and require separate openers, while glass containers with threaded twist-off crowns are heavier, break easily, and offer inadequate protection from light and UV exposure.

Innovation Solution

A method for forming a threaded neck on metallic bottles using a draw and ironing or impact extrusion process, integrating a plastic threaded outsert with anti-rotation features, allowing for secure closure and resealing with a twist-off crown or ROPP closure, and optionally applying coatings for protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If metal containers use pry-off or rolled-on neck finishes, then manufacturing is simpler and cost-effective, but the necks are easily damaged or deformed during closure application and removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneck finish manufacturingVSAvoidneck durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines metal container body with a plastic threaded outsert inserted into the neck portion. This composite structure allows the metal to provide structural integrity while the plastic outsert provides damage-resistant threading for closure application and removal, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and neck durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If glass containers use threaded twist-off crown neck finishes, then consumers can access product without separate tools and necks are more durable, but containers are heavier, break easily, and provide inadequate protection from light and UV exposure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneck durabilityVSAvoidcontainer weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a metal container body (providing strength and light weight) combined with a plastic threaded outsert in the neck portion (providing durable threading). This composite approach achieves glass-like neck durability while maintaining metal advantages of light weight, break resistance, and UV protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies threading only to the local neck portion via a plastic outsert rather than threading the entire container neck. This localized approach provides the necessary durability at the closure interface while maintaining the overall light weight and strength advantages of metal containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If metal containers use pry-off closures, then manufacturing is simpler, but closures require separate openers and cannot be reused for resealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure system manufacturingVSAvoidclosure convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The plastic threaded outsert integrated into the metal neck provides a threaded interface that accepts standard twist-off crown closures. This allows consumers to use the closure cap itself as the opener by twisting it off, eliminating the need for separate tools while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The threaded neck design is compatible with standard twist-off crown closures, making the closure system universal. The closure can be twisted off for opening and then reused for resealing the container, providing multi-functionality while maintaining ease of manufacture.

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

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 solution provides a durable, versatile, and cost-effective metallic bottle with a threaded neck that can be sealed and resealed without tools, offering better protection and convenience compared to existing metal and glass containers.

Implementation Method 1

The metallic bottle may be formed using any metal known in the art, such as aluminum or steel. In one embodiment, the metallic bottle is formed by a draw and ironing process.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDraw and ironing: Cold-forming

Implementation Method 2

In another embodiment, an impact extrusion process is used to form the metallic bottle.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact extrusion: Extrusion

Implementation Method 3

The threaded outsert is formed by injection molding a plastic material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInjection molding: Cold-forming

Data Source

PatentEP2969784B1Method for forming a threaded neck on a metallic bottle and such bottle
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 BALL CORP
  • EP2969784B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2969784B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2969784B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An apparatus and method of making and applying threaded twist-off neck finishes for metal containers is provided. More specifically, the present invention relations to apparatus and methods used to form metallic bottles with threaded necks adapted to receive selectively removable threaded closures. The threaded neck may be formed by interconnecting a threaded outsert to a metallic bottle. Alternatively, the threaded neck may be formed as an integral portion of the neck of the bottle.