Child-Resistant Sachet With Angled Outlet Tunnel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sachets for solid tablets are either easily openable by children, posing safety risks, or made child-resistant in a way that complicates access for elderly users, and often require unreliable re-close mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A sachet design featuring two flexible layers with an outlet tunnel having sequential sections aligned at non-180° angles, requiring users to urge tablets around these angles for dispensing, which is challenging for children but manageable for adults, thus providing child-resistance without additional closure mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a sachet has a simple outlet opening for easy tablet dispensing, then ease of operation is improved, but child safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of tablet dispensingVSAvoidchild safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet tunnel is divided into multiple sequential sections (first section, second section, third section) that are aligned at non-180° angles to each other. This segmentation creates a zig-zag path that requires deliberate manipulation to navigate, providing child resistance while maintaining ease of use for adults who can apply appropriate squeezing pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a sachet is made child-resistant with complex closure mechanisms, then child safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechild safetyVSAvoidease of tablet dispensing

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sachet design uses the user's own squeezing action to dispense tablets through the angled outlet tunnel. The structure itself provides the child-resistant function without requiring additional closure mechanisms, latches, or complex opening procedures. The angled sections work passively to prevent accidental dispensing while allowing intentional dispensing through applied pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If a sachet uses a straight outlet tunnel for simple construction, then device complexity is reduced, but child safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutlet tunnel structureVSAvoidchild safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet tunnel employs curved or angled sections instead of straight lines, creating a zig-zag configuration. The sequential sections are aligned at non-180° angles, forming bends that require tablets to change direction during dispensing. This curvature provides child resistance while maintaining relatively simple construction using standard sachet manufacturing techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS11834246B2Device

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 HALEON CH SARL

AI summary

A sachet (10) for containing solid tablets (30) having a cavity (11) with an outlet tunnel (20) a long which a tablet (30) can be moved in an outward direction, the outlet tunnel (20) comprising sequential sections (20A, 20B) in the outward direction aligned at a non-180° angle to each other, and the cavity (20) contains at least one solid tablet (30) which can be urged into the inlet opening (21), along the outlet tunnel and out through the outlet opening (22). The angled sections of the outlet tunnel impart child-resistance to the sachet.