Child-Resistant Bottle Cap Overshell for Carbonated Beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current child-resistant packaging solutions fail to effectively prevent accidental ingestion of cannabis-containing edible products, especially carbonated beverages, as they do not account for the additional pressure within carbonated bottles and are not designed for resealable caps that retain carbonation.
Innovation Solution
A child-resistant bottle cap overshell system that fits loosely over a standard bottle cap, secured by teeth engaging with grooves, requiring pressure to open and featuring flexible windows to accommodate pressure changes, ensuring the cap is difficult for young children to open while allowing resealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a child-resistant overcap is used on a carbonated beverage bottle, then child safety is improved, but the cap becomes difficult to open due to internal carbonation pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The overcap is divided into a rigid outer shell that maintains structural integrity and child resistance, and a flexible membrane or window portion that can deform under carbonation pressure. This segmentation allows the cap to remain child-resistant while accommodating the internal pressure of carbonated beverages without becoming difficult to open.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the overcap are modified to change its flexibility characteristics. By selecting materials with appropriate elastic modulus and incorporating flexible membrane sections, the overcap can withstand carbonation pressure while maintaining ease of opening. The rigid portions maintain child resistance while flexible portions allow normal opening operation.
2Reliability
If a rigid child-resistant cap is used, then child safety is improved, but carbonation retention is reduced due to inability to accommodate pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The overcap incorporates flexible membranes or thin film sections that can elastically deform to accommodate carbonation pressure changes within the bottle. These flexible portions allow the cap to maintain a secure seal while adapting to pressure variations, preventing carbonation loss while maintaining child-resistant properties through the rigid outer structure.
3Reliability
If a customized overcap design is used for each bottle type, then fit and security are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The overcap is designed with a universal fit system that can accommodate multiple bottle types and cap sizes. By incorporating adjustable elements, modular components, or a range of standardized sizes that work with various bottle configurations, the design achieves secure fit across different applications without requiring completely custom designs for each bottle type, thereby simplifying manufacturing.
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 system effectively prevents accidental consumption by making it difficult for children to open the bottle while allowing adults to easily access the contents, maintaining carbonation and allowing for resealing.
Implementation Method 1
One or more windows can be formed within the top cover of the overshell to provide flexibility and allow movement of the overshell when pressure is applied
Implementation Method 2
teeth can be formed along a portion of the overshell interior to engage with grooves on the bottle cap during opening of the bottle cap
Data Source
AI summary
A child-resistant bottle cap overshell and method for construction thereof is provided. A top cover has a rounded shape. A body extends from an outer perimeter of the top cover and is sized to fit over a bottle cap on a bottle. At least two cutouts are formed in the top cover adjacent to the outer perimeter. A plurality of ridges are formed on an inner surface of the body on a bottom end opposite the top cover.