Cap-and-Collar Medication Packaging with Segmented Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medication packaging fails to effectively prevent children from accessing medications and ensuring tamper evidence, leading to potential misuse and contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A child-proof and tamper-evident packaging system for medicated lollipops, featuring reversibly mated mold halves with a securement fitting and tamper-evidency mechanisms, such as a cap-and-collar assembly requiring concurrent compression and twisting to open, and a hinge assembly with locking apertures to prevent unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If simple bottle caps or pill bottle tops are used, then ease of operation is improved, but child-proof capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cap assembly is divided into separate components: a cap member with threading and a collar member with a locking mechanism. This segmentation allows the cap to be removed through a two-step process (unscrew then release latch), making it child-proof while remaining easy for adults to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap transitions from a static sealed state to a dynamic unlocked state through a mechanical latch mechanism. The collar member includes a latch that must be manually actuated after unscrewing, creating a dynamic security feature that adapts to user actions.
2Reliability
If tamper-evident seals are added to packaging, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper-evident feature is merged into the existing cap and collar assembly rather than being a separate component. The collar member includes an indicator that visually changes when the latch is actuated, combining security and tamper evidence functions in a single integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar member includes a visual indicator that changes color or appearance when the latch mechanism is activated. This color change provides immediate tamper evidence without requiring complex mechanical indicators or additional components.
3Reliability
If multi-step opening mechanisms are implemented, then child-proof capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The opening process is segmented into two distinct simple actions: first unscrew the cap member, then release the latch on the collar member. Each step is simple individually, but together they provide child-proof capability while remaining easy for adults to perform.
Data Source
AI summary
A child-proof and tamper-evident medication dispenser mold assembly includes first and second mold halves configured to be reversibly mated to form a product mold having an interior chamber for receiving an edible compound and a channel extending from the interior chamber to an outside surface of the assembly. The assembly further includes a male hinge component disposed on the first mold half and a female hinge component disposed on the second mold half, wherein each of the male and female hinge components are operable to cooperatively form a hinge assembly for mating the first and said second mold halves in an operable configuration. The male hinge component includes an aperture. The aperture, channel and interior chamber are substantially coaxially aligned.