Twisting Food Container Seal With Guided Ring Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers with twisting seals are unsatisfactory in handling and sealing efficiency, and they often leave product residue on the outer surface of the seal when the contents are poured, due to inadequate design for guiding the ring's movement and sealing mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a flexible resilient sleeve and a pivoting ring with oblique and circumferential grooves, notches, and lugs that guide the ring's movement to ensure axial alignment and secure sealing, preventing product residue on the outer surface by retracting the seal's parts during closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a twisting seal mechanism is used to close the container opening, then the sealing function is achieved, but product residue remains on the outer surface of the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces axial movement as a new dimension to the traditional rotational sealing mechanism. The lug engages with the oblique groove to convert part of the rotational movement into axial movement, causing the seal to retract axially during closure. This dimensional change ensures that the seal's outer surface does not contact the product, eliminating residue accumulation while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If the ring is allowed to pivot freely to twist the seal, then the seal can be deformed effectively, but the ring cannot be immobilized in specific angular positions
Solution Approach 1:
The notches and lug mechanism enable the system to self-lock at specific angular positions. When the lug engages with a notch, the ring is automatically immobilized without requiring external intervention. This self-service mechanism allows the seal to be deformed effectively during operation while maintaining stable angular positions when needed, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and positional stability.
3Reliability
If the seal is twisted to close the opening, then the container is sealed, but the seal structure cannot be cleaned easily due to product residue
Solution Approach 1:
The axial retraction mechanism effectively extracts or removes the seal's outer surface from the product contact zone during closure. By pulling the seal axially inward through the oblique groove engagement, the portion of the seal that would normally contact and accumulate product is withdrawn, making the seal surface accessible for cleaning and preventing residue buildup that would complicate maintenance.
4Device complexity
If the ring moves directly from released to closed position without guided movement, then the mechanism is simpler, but the seal cannot be properly aligned with the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The oblique groove acts as an intermediary element between the lug and the seal alignment process. As the lug travels along the oblique groove during ring movement, it mediates the transformation of motion from simple rotation to combined axial and rotational movement. This intermediary mechanism ensures precise alignment of the seal with the opening while maintaining relatively simple overall device structure, resolving the contradiction between complexity and precision.
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 container provides effective sealing and easy handling by guiding the ring's movement, ensuring no product residue remains on the outer surface of the seal, and facilitates easy cleaning and various sealing positions for different uses.
Implementation Method 1
a sleeve forming a seal, hereinafter 'seal', made from a flexible resilient material, connected to said body on the one hand and to said ring on the other hand, able to be twisted by pivoting the ring relative to the body between said released and closed off positions, the deformation of the seal occurring between a non-twisted state, in which the seal frees the opening of the container, and a twisted state, in which said seal closes off that opening
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a container (1) which includes a body (2) forming an opening, a mobile ring (4) capable of pivoting relative to said body (2), and a seal (3) made of a flexible, resilient material, connected to said body (2) as well as to said ring (4), capable of being twisted by pivoting the ring (4). According to the invention, said body (2) includes a circular peripheral wall (10) ending in a free edge that defines said opening, and said ring (4) is intended for being positioned around said wall (10); and one of said peripheral wall (10) or said ring (4) includes a series of grooves (11 and 15) and the other one of said ring (4) or said peripheral wall (10) includes a lug, the movement of said lug in said series of grooves enabling guided axial movement of the ring (4) relative to the wall (10) when the seal (3) starts to twist.