Atomizer Refill Lock Structure for Child-Safe Leakage Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing open-type atomizing devices are prone to accidental opening by children, leading to potential leakage and ingestion of the atomizing medium, and there is a need for a safer and more secure refilling mechanism.

Innovation Solution

An atomizing device with a movable protecting element that can switch between locking and unlocking states, shielding the liquid injecting hole to prevent unauthorized access, featuring guiding grooves and buckles for secure movement, and optionally using magnetic attraction or notches for enhanced security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sealing element is made easily openable for refilling, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety against children opening it deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of refillingVSAvoidchild safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protection mechanism is divided into two functional parts: a protecting element that can be opened by children for refilling, and a sealing element that requires adult strength to open. This segmentation allows the refilling function to be accessible while maintaining safety against accidental opening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protecting element is designed to be dynamically openable by children during refilling operations, while the sealing element remains dynamically locked during normal use. The system transitions between protected and accessible states based on operational needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the sealing element is made securely closed to prevent leakage, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation for refilling deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidease of refilling
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The closure system is segmented into a protecting element for routine access and a sealing element for secure closure. The sealing element maintains reliable leakage prevention while the protecting element provides easy refilling access without compromising the seal's integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protecting element acts as an intermediary between the user and the sealing element. It provides the refilling interface while the sealing element maintains the secure seal, allowing refilling without directly manipulating the sealed opening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the protecting element is added to shield the sealing element, then the safety against children opening is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechild safetyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protecting element serves multiple functions: it shields the sealing element from children, provides the refilling interface, and can be opened by children without affecting the seal. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The protecting element is nested around the sealing element, with the protecting element forming an outer protective structure that contains the sealing element. This nested configuration provides protection while maintaining a compact overall structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4241585B1Atomizing device
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 SHENZHEN MERIT TECH CO LTD
  • EP4241585B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4241585B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4241585B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An atomizing device (100) includes a liquid storing element (120) provided with a liquid injecting hole; a sealing element (121) detachably connected to the liquid storing element (120) and configured to seal the liquid injecting hole; and a protecting element (140) connected to the liquid storing element (120). The protecting element (140) is movable relative to the liquid storing element (120) and is capable of switching between a first position and a second position, the shielding area of the sealing element (121) by the protecting element (140) in the first position is greater than the shielding area of the sealing element (121) by the protecting element (140) in the second position.