Vented Container End Closure with Segmented Vent Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metallic container end closures face issues with bursting, buckling, leakage, and difficulty in opening, especially when containing carbonated beverages, due to large vent openings that are prone to premature failure and inadvertent opening during handling or stacking.
Innovation Solution
A metallic container end closure design featuring a primary dispensing opening and multiple strategically positioned and sized vent openings, with varying shapes and orientations, including a secondary vent opening that can be opened with a pull tab without requiring additional tools, and incorporating stiffening structures to reduce opening force and prevent inadvertent activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large vent opening is used to enhance flow and pourability, then the pour rate is improved, but the container is prone to bursting, buckling, leakage, and opening failures
Solution Approach 1:
The single large vent opening is divided into multiple smaller vent openings (first vent opening and second vent opening). This segmentation allows the container to achieve adequate venting and flow enhancement while distributing the structural stress across multiple smaller openings, thereby reducing the risk of bursting, buckling, and leakage compared to a single large opening.
2Productivity
If a large vent opening is used to provide enhanced flow, then the liquid stream control is improved, but the opening force required increases and inadvertent opening may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The vent opening is segmented into multiple smaller openings, each requiring less force to open individually. This reduces the total opening force needed compared to a single large opening, making the container easier to open and less prone to inadvertent opening during handling or stacking.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the end closure have different properties: the first vent opening is positioned and sized differently from the second vent opening. The first vent opening is configured for easier opening with lower force requirements, while the second vent opening provides additional flow enhancement. This local differentiation allows optimized ease of operation while maintaining liquid stream control.
3Productivity
If multiple vent openings are used to enhance pour characteristics, then the flow rate is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent opening is divided into two smaller vent openings instead of one large opening. This segmentation enhances pour characteristics by providing multiple flow paths while keeping each individual opening simple in design. The overall device complexity increases only minimally compared to the significant improvement in flow rate and pour characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A metallic container end closure is provided that generally comprises a dispensing opening and a vent opening. The vent opening improves pourability through the dispensing opening and provides an alternative option for consuming the contents of the container. The end closure may include features to ease opening of the vent opening, such as stiffeners and/or vent form features.