Child-Resistant Package With Nested Inner Outer Securing Means

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing child-resistant packaging solutions are complex and difficult to produce on conventional packaging machines, making them costly and inefficient for mass-market applications, particularly for products like alternative tobacco and cannabis products that require secure access to prevent child exposure.

Innovation Solution

A child-resistant pack design featuring securing means between the inner and outer packs, including locking mechanisms and security cards with spring-loaded tabs, stop tabs, and snap-out tabs, which require multiple actions to open, ensuring secure access while allowing cost-effective production on conventional machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex securing means are used to prevent child access, then child-resistant performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechild-resistant performanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The package is divided into an inner package and an outer package with separate securing mechanisms. The inner package has its own securing means that must be opened first, while the outer package has additional securing means. This segmentation creates multiple independent barriers that children must overcome sequentially, improving child-resistant performance without requiring a single overly complex mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner package is nested within the outer package, with the inner package's opening mechanism contained within the outer package structure. This nesting allows both packages to have their own securing means while maintaining a compact overall structure. The inner package must be opened and removed from the outer package before the outer package can be fully accessed, creating layered security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If multiple securing means are implemented, then child-resistant performance is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechild-resistant performanceVSAvoidproduction ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the securing mechanisms into separate inner and outer package components, each with their own simplified securing means, the invention enables modular manufacturing. Each package can be manufactured independently using conventional equipment, then assembled together, improving ease of manufacture compared to a single integrated complex mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The securing means incorporate movable elements such as tabs that can be pressed or manipulated. These dynamic elements are simple in design but provide effective child-resistant functionality when combined. The tabs can be easily manufactured using conventional forming processes and require minimal assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional packaging machines are used, then production cost is reduced, but ability to produce child-resistant packages decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidchild-resistant performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The package structure is segmented into standard outer package and inner package components that can each be manufactured using conventional packaging machinery. The securing means are designed as separate elements that can be applied using existing sealing and attachment equipment, allowing cost-effective production on conventional machines while maintaining child-resistant performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The securing means use simple replicated elements such as tabs and corresponding recesses that can be easily manufactured using conventional forming and sealing processes. These elements are designed to be produced using standard packaging machine capabilities, avoiding the need for specialized equipment while maintaining effective child-resistant functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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 design effectively prevents children from accessing the contents by requiring multiple actions to open, meeting child-resistant standards while allowing easy operation for adults, thus enhancing safety and reducing production costs.

Implementation Method 1

The locking means of the security card is preferably designed as a tab, which engages a corresponding recess in the outer packaging through the pressure of a spring element of the security card.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3838795B1Package with securing means for its opening, in particular childproof package
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 FOCKE & CO (GMBH & CO KG)
  • EP3838795B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3838795B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP3838795B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The invention relates to a package with a tamper-evident opening device, in particular a child-resistant package (10), comprising an outer package (11) and an inner package, wherein the inner package is at least partially enclosed in the outer package (11), and wherein the inner package (12) is pivotably arranged in the outer package (11) for opening and closing the package (10), and wherein the package (10) has at least one locking element as a tamper-evident opening device to make it difficult or impossible to open the package (10) or to gain access to the products arranged in the inner package (12). The invention is characterized in that the at least one locking element is effective between the inner package (12) and the outer package (11) to make it difficult or impossible to pivot the inner package (12) in the outer package (11) to open the package (10).