Tamper-Evident Closure Assembly with Segmented Indicator Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure assemblies with tamper-evident functionality are aesthetically unpleasing and may suffer from premature destruction of the frangible bridge during storage, transport, or handling, and do not effectively indicate if the cap has been opened previously.
Innovation Solution
A closure assembly design featuring a boss with a catch portion and recess arrangement that obscures the boss when the cap is closed, allowing for significant deformation of the indicator portion upon first opening, providing an audible and visual indication of opening, and enhancing the cap's stability and aesthetics by hiding the frangible bridge behind the trailing end of the base portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the boss is made visible in side view to indicate opening status, then the tamper-evident indication is clear, but the aesthetic appearance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator function is extracted from the boss and transferred to the indicator portion that becomes visible when the frangible bridge breaks. The boss remains obscured by the base portion for aesthetic purposes, while the indicator portion provides the opening status indication without compromising the visual appearance of the closure assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator portion acts as an intermediary element between the boss (which remains hidden) and the user (who needs visual feedback). When the frangible bridge breaks, the indicator portion moves to reveal the opening status, providing information without exposing the boss structure.
2Ease of operation
If the frangible bridge is exposed to facilitate breakage, then the opening mechanism is simple, but premature destruction during storage and handling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible bridge is nested within the structure formed by the base portion and indicator portion. The base portion overlaps the indicator portion in circumferential direction, creating a protective configuration that shields the frangible bridge from external forces during storage and handling, yet allows controlled breakage during intentional opening.
3Loss of information
If the indicator portion deforms significantly upon opening, then the tamper-evident effect is enhanced, but the structural integrity of the cap is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cap structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the base portion providing structural support, the frangible bridge as a controlled weak point, and the indicator portion that deforms to provide visual feedback. This segmentation allows the indicator portion to undergo significant deformation for tamper evidence while the base portion maintains overall cap integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A closure assembly comprising an article (1) with a neck (4) and a cap (20). The cap comprises a tamper-evident ring (30) composed of at least two ring segments (31), each ring segment having a base portion (32) and an indicator portion (33). The article has for each segment a boss (15) with a catch portion (16) having a recess (17). The head end (35) of the indicator portion is arranged at a spacing radially inward from the trailing end (32a) of the adjacent base portion when the cap is in its closed position. Upon rotating the cap in opening direction by the user from its closed position for the first time the head end of the indicator portion enters the recess of the catch portion and is then prevented from further rotation of the cap in opening direction, whilst the catch portion outer wall comes in the spacing between the spaced apart head end and trailing end, the frangible bridge (36) between the head end and trailing end breaking and the indicator portion bending, folding, and/or buckling whilst being subjected to permanent deformation upon further rotation of the cap in opening direction.