Wine Tap With Rotating Ribs And Padlock For Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wine taps in 'bag in box' containers face issues with accidental openings, unauthorized access, high opening force, oxygen permeability, and reduced product lifespan due to compromised seals after initial opening.
Innovation Solution
A safety tap design featuring a hollow base body with a sealing seat, deformable elastic element, and rotating ribs that require intentional effort to open, combined with a padlock mechanism for enhanced security and improved gas barrier, maintaining the seal's effectiveness without increased opening force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal is used to guarantee authenticity and volume, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but after initial opening the tap becomes vulnerable to accidental openings and mishandling
Solution Approach 1:
The tap mechanism transitions from a static sealed state to a dynamic controlled opening state. The bushing can be displaced axially to move between closed and open positions, while the ribs rotate between engaged and disengaged states in the grooves. This dynamic design allows the tap to maintain security when closed while enabling intentional opening when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is separated from the opening control function. The seal maintains the closed state and guarantees security, while the ribs-grooves mechanism provides independent control over the opening action. This segmentation allows the seal to focus on reliability while the mechanical control elements handle ease of operation.
2Reliability
If closing pressure is increased to improve firmness and oxygen impermeability, then barrier effect is improved, but greater opening force is required
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic element provides dynamic sealing pressure that adapts to the tap's position. When the bushing is in the closed position, the elastic element exerts maximum force to ensure firm sealing and oxygen impermeability. When opening is initiated by rotating the ribs, the elastic element's force is redirected to push the bushing open, so the high closing pressure does not translate to high opening force resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening process occurs in distinct phases: first the ribs rotate to disengage from the grooves, then the elastic element pushes the bushing axially to open the seal. This periodic action separates the overcoming of closing pressure from the initial engagement, allowing high sealing force without proportionally high opening force requirement.
3Ease of operation
If the tap structure is simplified for ease of operation, then ergonomics are improved, but security features and barrier effect may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The ribs serve multiple functions: they provide the opening control mechanism that users interact with, they engage with grooves to maintain the closed secure state, and they transmit the opening force from the elastic element. This multi-functionality allows a single simple component to address both ease of operation and security requirements without adding complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ribs are integrated within the bushing structure, and the grooves are formed in the base body. The elastic element is contained within the hollow base body. This nested arrangement allows multiple security and operational features to be incorporated within a compact, ergonomically simple external form.
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 safety tap prevents accidental openings, maintains product freshness by reducing oxygen permeability, and ensures secure, effortless operation, extending the product's usable life while maintaining maximum security and water-tightness.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable elastic element connected to the base body; a plug located at a second end of the bushing, opposite the first end, and linked to the elastic element; where, in the closed position, the elastic element is pressed by the effect of the plug against the sealing seat to close the pouring spout
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to containers commonly used for the sale of wine, including a tap essentially comprising a stationary body and a deformable elastic plug that tends to stay closed. According to the invention, transverse grooves are provided at one of the rear corners of each of the windows in which the flanges move and, by means of the angular rotation of the cylindrical cap, said grooves can be used to lock the flanges axially in the forced closed position, before and after removing the seal, thereby hindering the opening of the tap, which requires a combined rotation and pulling movement. In addition, the stationary and moving elements include coaxial through-holes allowing the installation of a padlock preventing unauthorized persons from accessing the container.