Battery Peel-Off Assembly with Aversive Agent for Ingestion Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small button cell batteries, such as coin cells, pose a swallowing danger due to their size and shape, particularly for infants and pets, and can cause bodily harm if ingested, as they can lead to electrolysis of body fluids and burning of esophageal/organ tissue.
Innovation Solution
A peel-off assembly is applied to the battery terminals, featuring a first adhesive layer, a water-soluble material layer with an aversive agent, and a kill strip layer that releases when peeled, exposing a safety feature to deter ingestion by creating an unpleasant taste or visual signal upon contact with bodily fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If button cell batteries are made smaller for portable devices, then productivity and device portability are improved, but the danger of swallowing and bodily harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-applying a peel-off assembly with aversive agent to the battery terminal before the battery is used. This preventive measure is in place beforehand to deter swallowing if the battery is accidentally ingested, addressing the safety hazard before it can cause harm while maintaining the small size needed for portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful aspect of the battery (its small size that makes it swallowable) into a benefit by using that same small size to apply a concentrated aversive agent coating. The peel-off assembly transforms the potential harm of ingestion into a beneficial deterrent, where the act of swallowing triggers an unpleasant taste that prevents further harm.
2Reliability
If a peel-off assembly with aversive agent is applied to the battery, then safety against ingestion is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the safety feature into a separate peel-off assembly that can be applied independently to the battery terminal. This modular approach allows the aversive agent coating to be separated from the battery itself, simplifying the overall system while maintaining safety functionality. The peel-off assembly acts as an independent safety component rather than integrating complexity into the battery design.
Solution Approach 2:
The peel-off assembly functions as a disposable safety component that is applied to the battery terminal and then removed after serving its protective purpose. This approach uses a simple, low-cost, single-use element to provide safety without requiring complex, permanent modifications to the battery design, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing device complexity.
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 peel-off assembly effectively prevents ingestion by inducing a gag reflex through the aversive agent and provides a visual signal of ingestion through a colorant layer, allowing adults to identify and address potential battery ingestion promptly.
Implementation Method 1
a layer comprising a water-soluble material and an aversive agent is disposed over and coupled to the first adhesive layer
Implementation Method 2
A layer comprising a colorant is optionally disposed over and coupled to the first adhesive layer
Data Source
AI summary
A peel off assembly for exposing a safety feature comprising an aversive agent for a battery includes a first adhesive layer adhered to a base layer. Optionally, a layer comprising a colorant is disposed over and coupled to the first adhesive layer. A layer comprising a water-soluble material and an aversive agent is disposed over and coupled to the first adhesive layer. A second adhesive layer is disposed over and coupled to the layer comprising a water-soluble material. A kill strip layer is disposed between the second adhesive layer and the base layer. Optionally, a label is disposed over and coupled to the second adhesive layer. The second adhesive layer is adapted and arranged to release from the layer comprising the water-soluble material, when a peel force is applied such that the second adhesive layer and the kill strip layer are removable from the layer comprising a water-soluble material when the peel force is applied to the second adhesive layer.