Twisted Reduced Pressure Panel for Plastic Bottle

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Solution Overview

Problem

The reduced pressure absorbing portion of existing plastic bottles is prone to deformation and shrink marks during molding and filling, leading to strength issues and efficiency limitations in production.

Innovation Solution

A plastic bottle design featuring twisted reduced pressure absorbing panels with multiple depressions and protrusions, which enhance the reduced pressure absorbing function and provide high strength, preventing deformation and shrink marks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a reduced pressure absorbing panel is provided in the plastic bottle, then the reduced pressure absorbing function is improved, but the panel is easily depressed due to shrinkage during molding and is easily deformable when pressurized to be filled with beverage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereduced pressure absorbing functionVSAvoidpanel strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing protrusions at specific locations (opposite ends) of the reduced pressure absorbing panel. These protrusions create localized reinforcement zones that prevent deformation during molding and filling, while the rest of the panel maintains its reduced pressure absorbing functionality. The panel has different structural properties at different locations: reinforced at the ends with protrusions, and compliant in the central region for pressure absorption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs curvature by forming the protrusions as curved surfaces that extend over the entire circumferential width of the first depression. The twisted shape of the panel in the circumferential direction and the curved surface of the protrusions provide structural strength while maintaining the reduced pressure absorbing function. The curved geometry distributes stress more effectively than flat surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of manufacture

If the reduced pressure absorbing panel is made with simple structure, then the manufacturing is easier, but the panel shows shrink marks and deformation during molding and filling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel manufacturingVSAvoidpanel shape precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the protrusions and twisted shape in the panel during the molding process. The protrusions are created as integral features of the molded panel, preventing shrink marks and deformation before they can occur during subsequent handling and filling operations. The preliminary structural configuration ensures dimensional stability throughout the production and filling process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the plastic bottle is pressurized to be filled with beverage, then the filling process is completed, but the reduced pressure absorbing panel becomes deformed radially outwardly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling efficiencyVSAvoidpanel shape stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing protrusions that counteract the radially outward deformation force during pressurized filling. The protrusions act as structural barriers that resist the outward pressure, preventing the panel from deforming during the filling process. This allows efficient pressurized filling while maintaining panel shape stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP3763627B1Plastic bottle
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 SUNTORY HLDG LTD
  • EP3763627B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3763627B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3763627B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A plastic bottle comprises: a body portion provided with a reduced pressure absorbing panel portion 33 and a body portion reference surface 34, wherein the reduced pressure absorbing panel portion 33 extends in an up-down direction of the body portion and is twisted in shape in a circumferential direction of the bottle with a central axis of the bottle as a center, a first depression 33a is in a direction from the body portion reference surface 34 toward inside the bottle, a second depression 33b is present at a circumferential center of the first depression 33a and is in a direction from the first depression 33a further inwardly, protrusions 33c are present respectively at opposite ends of the first depression 33a in the up-down direction and are each in a form of a curved surface that protrudes from the first depression 33a outwardly, and each of the protrusions 33c has a dimension in the up-down direction which dimension is smallest at circumferentially opposite ends and largest at a central portion.