Unitary Closure with Integrated Tear-Off Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closures with tear-off seals are vulnerable to fraudulent restoration to their pre-opening configuration, and their production and assembly are costly and complex.
Innovation Solution
A closure with a one-piece unitary body comprising a cap, a tubular element, and integrated tamper-evident seals, where the first tear-off seal must be removed before accessing the second, ensuring irreversible configuration change and simplified, cost-effective manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate components (capsule, tear-off seals, cap) are used to provide tamper-evident functionality, then the reliability against fraudulent restoration is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cap, tubular element, and both tear-off seals into a single one-piece unitary body formed by injection molding. This integration maintains the functional sequence of seal removal while eliminating the complexity of assembling and coordinating multiple separate components, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The unitary body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the cap structure for closing, the tubular element for surrounding the container neck, the first tear-off seal for initial opening evidence, and the second tear-off seal for final opening evidence. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components while maintaining tamper-evident reliability
2Reliability
If multiple separate components are used with breakable portions, then the tamper-evident function is improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The injection molding process creates the unitary body with all features (cap, tubular element, tear-off seals, and breakable portions) in a single operation. This eliminates the need for separate manufacturing of multiple components and their subsequent assembly, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The breakable portions are pre-formed as integral features of the unitary body during injection molding, with predetermined weak points that will break at specific locations during seal removal. This preliminary formation of breakable structures eliminates the need for post-manufacturing assembly operations while ensuring reliable tamper evidence
Data Source
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AI summary
A closure (1) for a container having a neck ending with a pouring orifice, comprises a cap (10) configured to close the pouring orifice, the cap comprising a top wall (12) and a sleeve extending from the top wall to a lower edge, a tubular element (20) configured to surround the neck of the container, a first tear-off seal (40) and a second tear-off seal (30). The cap (10), the tubular element (20), the first tear-off seal (40) and the second tear-off seal (30) define a unitary body.