Gecko-like container capping system and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9365330-B2
Application number	US-201213819776-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2012
Priority date	Oct 5, 2012
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

Methods, systems, caps, containers, and assemblies for a gecko-like container capping system are described. A gecko-like cap configured to cover an opening in a container may include an inner surface configured to mate with an opening surface of a container. Setae may be located on a surface of the cap and/or a surface of the container that are configured to oppose movement of the cap away from the container by creating an adhesion force between the inner surface and the opening surface. The cap may include one or more release mechanisms configured to deflect the inner surface away from the opening surface, thereby reducing the adhesion force such that the cap is removable from the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cap configured to cover an opening in a container, the cap comprising:
an inner surface configured to mate with an opening surface of a container, the inner surface comprising a plurality of setae configured to oppose movement of the cap away from the container by creating an adhesion force between the inner surface and the opening surface; and
at least one release mechanism configured to reduce the adhesion force such that the cap is removable from the container through at least one of contacting at least a portion of the plurality of setae to peel the portion of the plurality of setae away from the opening surface and contacting the opening surface to deflect the opening surface away from the inner surface.

2. The cap of claim 1 , further comprising at least one spring mechanism configured to provide a resistive force between the inner surface and the opening surface in a direction that is parallel to a direction of the adhesion force.

3. The cap of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of setae has a diameter of about 10 nm to about 100 μm.

4. The cap of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of setae has a length of about 10 μm to about 500 μm.

5. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a same material as the container.

6. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises at least one of high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, post-consumer resin, K-resin, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polylactic acid, acryl resin, and combinations thereof.

7. The cap of claim 1 , further comprising at least one tab release mechanism configured to reduce the adhesion force via deflecting the inner surface away from the opening surface.

8. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the at least one release mechanism is configured to reduce the adhesion force such that the cap is removable from the container through contacting at least a portion of the plurality of setae to peel the portion of the plurality of setae away from the inner surface.

9. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the at least one release mechanism is configured to reduce the adhesion force such that the cap is removable from the container through contacting the opening surface to deflect the opening surface away from the inner surface.

10. A container configured to receive a cap for closing an opening of the container, the container comprising:
an opening surface configured to mate with an inner surface of the cap, the opening surface comprising a plurality of setae configured to oppose movement of the cap away from the container by creating an adhesion force between the inner surface and the opening surface;
at least one release mechanism configured to reduce the adhesion force such that the cap is removable from the container; and
a stopper mechanism configured to receive a spring mechanism of the cap, the spring mechanism being configured to provide a resistive force between the inner surface and the opening surface in a direction that is parallel to a direction of the adhesion force.

11. The container of claim 10 , wherein the container comprises a same material as the cap.

12. The container of claim 10 , wherein the container comprises high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, post-consumer resin, K-resin, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polylactic acid, acryl resin, and combinations thereof.

13. The container of claim 10 , wherein the inner surface comprises at least a portion of the plurality of setae.

Assignees

• Empire Technology Dev Llc

Inventors

• Londergan Timothy
• Wan Feng
• Hashizume Kenichi
• Needham Scott

Classifications

• B65D41/02 Primary

  Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B29L2031/565

  for containers · CPC title

• B29K2995/0072

  Roughness, e.g. anti-slip · CPC title

• B29K2067/003

  PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate · CPC title