Childproof Container Closure with Segmented Lock Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing child-resistant container closures are difficult for adults to open easily, particularly for older or sick individuals with limited mobility, while being ineffective in preventing access by small children.

Innovation Solution

A child-resistant container closure design featuring a separate chamber for the child safety lock, with clamping sections and actuation buttons that allow intuitive operation, ensuring the lock is accessible and secure without complex mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a child safety lock is integrated into the container closure, then child protection is improved, but the ease of operation for adults deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechild protectionVSAvoidease of opening
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container closure is segmented into a container body and a separate lid that can be removed. The child safety lock is integrated into this lid structure, allowing adults to easily remove the entire lid when needed, while children cannot manipulate the locking mechanism on the container body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A deformable membrane acts as an intermediary element in the child safety lock mechanism. The membrane can be deformed by adult fingers to release the locking arms, but its size and deformation requirements prevent children from activating it, thus mediating between child protection and adult accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the child safety lock components are made small, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for elderly or sick people deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of lock mechanismVSAvoidfinger mobility requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The operating surface of the child safety lock is extended into a larger deformable membrane area. This allows users to apply force over a greater surface area with their fingers, reducing the pressure concentration and making it easier for elderly or sick people with limited finger mobility to activate the locking mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the container closure height is increased to accommodate the child safety lock chamber, then the locking mechanism reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and visual appeal deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking mechanism reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The child safety lock chamber is nested within the existing container closure structure. The locking mechanism components are arranged concentrically and vertically to utilize the available space efficiently, avoiding the need for additional height while maintaining reliable locking functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2945875B1Childproof container closure
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 SANNER
  • EP2945875B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2945875B1 patent drawingFigure 1b~1g
  • EP2945875B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~1i

AI summary

The invention relates to a container closure for a container (1) having an accommodating space (6) for accommodating contents, wherein the container closure has a container-side portion (3), in which a dispensing opening (16) for the contents is formed, wherein the container closure has a lid portion (4), which is intended for closing the dispensing opening (16) and is connected to the container-side portion (3) via a hinge (5), a childproof lock (7) being provided. The invention is characterized in that the container-side portion (3) forms a chamber (12), which is separate from the accommodating space (6), and in that the childproof lock (7) is arranged in the chamber (12) at least in a closed position of the lid portion (4).