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Easy Cap!
One of the things with refrigerated soda bottles is unscrewing the cap can be a bit tough. A little bit of physics applied to a cap redesign does the trick to making things easier. The teardrop shaped Easy Access Bottle Cap is perfect. I can’t see why we can’t standardize this across all bottles. It’s ergonomic and smooth. Looks kinda cool too.
Designer: Shao-Nung Chen
84 Comments »
Johnny says
If you're too weak to open a soda bottle, you should be at the gym working out and drinking a protein shake instead.
Art says
Generally true, but in my old age, I have a finger joint issue which substantially weakens my sideways-squeezing power.
James says
what a twat of a comment.
Kara says
Can't you read, he's old. If he went to the gym, he would probably break a bone or something. You shouldn't tell people how to live their lives, even if you have no idea how they look like.
SUe says
Why not instead of changing the cap design just making something which can be plugged onto the cap and turned whenever the cap is too to tightly screwed on or has become stuck due to areduced pressure?
Antonio says
Neat idea, but is it really necessary? It wouldn't be comfortable when opening at certain angles. Maybe instead of changing the size of the cap, change the grip, but I doubt that would do too much either.
John says
@Sue, the world has enough single-function and quite frankly crap appliances like that. You are also suggesting that rather than solve a problem at the source (like this bottle cap) that you should take advantage of a crap design and design for it?! madness. This bottle cap is genius
Bauski says
I agree with Sue. Design is always subject to different limitations, cost of manufacturing being one. The cost saving in producing a round shape instead of this thing is outweighing the benefit that a few people with medical issues, like Art, would gain from that.
John, you should put things into perspective before you make those anchorless statements. It's not genius, I'm sorry.
engineering_thoughts says
Cost of manufacturing something like this is cheap. There will be some initial investment in tooling (which really won't be much more than a round). That said, plastic injection molding tools eventually wear out (those in N. America might recall the change in 2L bottle design – likely rolled in when the old tools were near end of life). In terms of additional plastic cost – we're talking tiny fractions of a penny. In the overall lifespan, the initial tooling costs amortize.
Coca Cola thought it was worth the money to inscribe unique codes inside the caps of their products for marketing reasons – that's not a free operation. Coupled with the marketing campaigns already in place, this could be very successful. Marketing it as a brand differentiator and easier (faster?) to open is a is a frequent winner. Useful for people with medial issues is a secondary benefit.
Would you argue that pull top cans are useless and only address people that have a medical issue that prevents them from using a can opener? Pull tops are more expensive than solid top cans….
Genius? No – I agree with you. Certainly clever
gee doubleyou says
Interesting. I heard that it was quite expensive to produce such a small bit of plastic for drinks. My question is, why not design a container or top that doesn't have any plastic at all?
Jimmy C says
I don't know, wouldn't that be extra plastic?
engineering_thoughts says
Clever… Totally feasible to manufacture but would not be compatible with legacy bottling/closure machines (not without modification).
It would also increase waste a tiny bit as these caps are not recyclable due to mixed content.
Nice work.
Johnny says
If you're too weak to open a soda bottle, you should be at the gym working out and drinking a protein shake instead.
Art says
Generally true, but in my old age, I have a finger joint issue which substantially weakens my sideways-squeezing power.
James says
what a twat of a comment.
Kara says
Can't you read, he's old. If he went to the gym, he would probably break a bone or something. You shouldn't tell people how to live their lives, even if you have no idea how they look like.
SUe says
Why not instead of changing the cap design just making something which can be plugged onto the cap and turned whenever the cap is too to tightly screwed on or has become stuck due to areduced pressure?
Antonio says
Neat idea, but is it really necessary? It wouldn't be comfortable when opening at certain angles. Maybe instead of changing the size of the cap, change the grip, but I doubt that would do too much either.
John says
@Sue, the world has enough single-function and quite frankly crap appliances like that. You are also suggesting that rather than solve a problem at the source (like this bottle cap) that you should take advantage of a crap design and design for it?! madness. This bottle cap is genius
Bauski says
I agree with Sue. Design is always subject to different limitations, cost of manufacturing being one. The cost saving in producing a round shape instead of this thing is outweighing the benefit that a few people with medical issues, like Art, would gain from that.
John, you should put things into perspective before you make those anchorless statements. It's not genius, I'm sorry.
engineering_thoughts says
Cost of manufacturing something like this is cheap. There will be some initial investment in tooling (which really won't be much more than a round). That said, plastic injection molding tools eventually wear out (those in N. America might recall the change in 2L bottle design – likely rolled in when the old tools were near end of life). In terms of additional plastic cost – we're talking tiny fractions of a penny. In the overall lifespan, the initial tooling costs amortize.
Coca Cola thought it was worth the money to inscribe unique codes inside the caps of their products for marketing reasons – that's not a free operation. Coupled with the marketing campaigns already in place, this could be very successful. Marketing it as a brand differentiator and easier (faster?) to open is a is a frequent winner. Useful for people with medial issues is a secondary benefit.
Would you argue that pull top cans are useless and only address people that have a medical issue that prevents them from using a can opener? Pull tops are more expensive than solid top cans….
Genius? No – I agree with you. Certainly clever
gee doubleyou says
Interesting. I heard that it was quite expensive to produce such a small bit of plastic for drinks. My question is, why not design a container or top that doesn't have any plastic at all?
Jimmy C says
I don't know, wouldn't that be extra plastic?
engineering_thoughts says
Clever… Totally feasible to manufacture but would not be compatible with legacy bottling/closure machines (not without modification).
It would also increase waste a tiny bit as these caps are not recyclable due to mixed content.
Nice work.
xYko says
Or just use a nutcracker…
dusieqq says
with that cap, cola bottle looks abit hilarous, imo needless crap to pump up the price (you know, production cost of such cap, new form to bulid, transport new form sketches, provide new sizes and so on and at last place: more plastic) like aqua said in their songs "life in plastic it's fantastic"
dusieqq says
with that cap, cola bottle looks abit hilarous, imo needless crap to pump up the price (you know, production cost of such cap, new form to bulid, transport new form sketches, provide new sizes and so on and at last place: more plastic) like aqua said in their songs “life in plastic it's fantastic”
ryan says
in 3years ago already have this design it is copy
Ashley says
But then I wouldn't be able to open it with a palm-grip, only with my fingers…
thedisgruntledarchitect says
I like this idea. I love that someone capitalized on design to create a streamline way of opening a bottle. I don't think there was anything lacking in the previous bottle design; however, this one is just a better mechanism. Very cool concept!
Mike Barnard says
As someone who doesn't need to get to the gym or drink protein shakes, my two cents is that I've run across at least one brand of water bottles where the cap size has been diminished to the bare minimum to screw on and seal. The seal actually locks the cap from turning when pressure is applied. I was extremely challenged to open it, and was the only one in a group of ten who succeeded, becoming the de facto bottle opener for that particular meeting.
As an outlier on the triangle of cost, closure and usability skewed heavily toward cost, it's an indicator of where a majority of the market is today.
However, as the populace ages, plastic bottles will have to skew more toward usability. There will be more degenerative joint challenges, more loose skin and more weak muscles. A company that but this bottle cap on the market in a niche target today would see an expansion in market tomorrow.
As with the plastic lid for paper coffee cups (one of the most refined industrial design objects on the planet), there will be innovations that will bring cost and material usage down while maintaining the functionality.
Cheers,
Mike
Dave says
Cheers Mike.
Cheers,
Dave.
Mike Barnard says
As someone who doesn't need to get to the gym or drink protein shakes, my two cents is that I've run across at least one brand of water bottles where the cap size has been diminished to the bare minimum to screw on and seal. The seal actually locks the cap from turning when pressure is applied. I was extremely challenged to open it, and was the only one in a group of ten who succeeded, becoming the de facto bottle opener for that particular meeting.
As an outlier on the triangle of cost, closure and usability skewed heavily toward cost, it's an indicator of where a majority of the market is today.
However, as the populace ages, plastic bottles will have to skew more toward usability. There will be more degenerative joint challenges, more loose skin and more weak muscles. A company that but this bottle cap on the market in a niche target today would see an expansion in market tomorrow.
As with the plastic lid for paper coffee cups (one of the most refined industrial design objects on the planet), there will be innovations that will bring cost and material usage down while maintaining the functionality.
Cheers,
Mike
Dave says
Cheers Mike.
Cheers,
Dave.
Gianluca says
This is the first project!!
http://www.architetturaedesign.it/index.php/2008/...
Gianluca says
This is the first project!!
http://www.architetturaedesign.it/index.php/2008/...
xYko says
Or just use a nutcracker…
dusieqq says
with that cap, cola bottle looks abit hilarous, imo needless crap to pump up the price (you know, production cost of such cap, new form to bulid, transport new form sketches, provide new sizes and so on and at last place: more plastic) like aqua said in their songs “life in plastic it's fantastic”
ryan says
in 3years ago already have this design it is copy
Ashley says
But then I wouldn't be able to open it with a palm-grip, only with my fingers…
thedisgruntledarchitect says
I like this idea. I love that someone capitalized on design to create a streamline way of opening a bottle. I don't think there was anything lacking in the previous bottle design; however, this one is just a better mechanism. Very cool concept!
Mike Barnard says
As someone who doesn't need to get to the gym or drink protein shakes, my two cents is that I've run across at least one brand of water bottles where the cap size has been diminished to the bare minimum to screw on and seal. The seal actually locks the cap from turning when pressure is applied. I was extremely challenged to open it, and was the only one in a group of ten who succeeded, becoming the de facto bottle opener for that particular meeting.
As an outlier on the triangle of cost, closure and usability skewed heavily toward cost, it's an indicator of where a majority of the market is today.
However, as the populace ages, plastic bottles will have to skew more toward usability. There will be more degenerative joint challenges, more loose skin and more weak muscles. A company that but this bottle cap on the market in a niche target today would see an expansion in market tomorrow.
As with the plastic lid for paper coffee cups (one of the most refined industrial design objects on the planet), there will be innovations that will bring cost and material usage down while maintaining the functionality.
Cheers,
Mike
Gianluca says
This is the first project!!
http://www.architetturaedesign.it/index.php/2008/...
Ami says
I think that the design is good has all other 97% designs which remain on the boards of the designers.
If you have a challenging Idea – you must have a say…
But it need to be with solid thinking and with better solution from all sides – the easiest for the consumer and the cost effective one from the manufacture side – So it can be relevant to produce.
For the benefit to open it without a mussel – design an opener for these special niche.
The extra charge for the material is not so low, with the new molds- it will put an extra 20% to 30% at list above the price -It will give the Beverage companies cart blanc to extra charge US.
You all forgot that what we all need is to minimize – the cost, the material, the size – we all need to go GREEN.
Regards, from ami@ltl.co.il
chacha says
before 'u cap'
Ami says
I think that the design is good has all other 97% designs which remain on the boards of the designers.
If you have a challenging Idea – you must have a say…
But it need to be with solid thinking and with better solution from all sides – the easiest for the consumer and the cost effective one from the manufacture side – So it can be relevant to produce.
For the benefit to open it without a mussel – design an opener for these special niche.
The extra charge for the material is not so low, with the new molds- it will put an extra 20% to 30% at list above the price -It will give the Beverage companies cart blanc to extra charge US.
You all forgot that what we all need is to minimize – the cost, the material, the size – we all need to go GREEN.
Regards, from ami@ltl.co.il
chacha says
before 'u cap'
bhp online says
very interesting article, i've always wanted to write my own blog but i don't have much time
regards from bhp
bhp online says
very interesting article, i've always wanted to write my own blog but i don't have much time
regards from bhp
Sarah Farrukh says
so cool and easy
Sarah Farrukh says
so cool and easy
promotional says
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promotional says
You completed several good points there. I did a search about the issue and located virtually all people should go together with along with your blog.
promotional says
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creative design says
it a practical idea but i have to agree with the comment above – there's extra plastic
creative design says
it a practical idea but i have to agree with the comment above – there's extra plastic
joe says
Here is the original from the year 2007 or 2008 http://www.dddddesign.de/Main.html
Name of the Designer: Désirée Doell, Made in Germany
best regards
joe
GQ says
I have a question:
http://q36bn5241.pixnet.net/blog/post/80033119
Is it different?
dobuy says
http://www.dobuy.webnode.jp,http://www.dobuy.webnode.jp
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