Tamper-Evident Closure Cap with Hinged Safety Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure caps for moisture-sensitive containers are cumbersome and costly to fill with desiccant material, as they require manual assembly and risk moisture exposure during transport, especially when manufactured far from the goods they need to protect.
Innovation Solution
A closure cap system with a built-in safety element that can be easily activated to prevent unintentional opening, allowing pre-closure of containers with desiccant material during transport, ensuring the safety element remains intact until intended use, and featuring a snap-fit mechanism with wedge-shaped protrusions and a film hinge that breaks upon opening, signaling any tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the container is pre-closed with desiccant material during transport, then the manufacturing and transport efficiency is improved, but the risk of safety element breakage and moisture exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is pre-closed with desiccant material and the safety element is positioned in its protective recess before transport. This preliminary action allows the container to be prepared in advance at the container manufacturer's site, improving efficiency while the safety element remains protected during transport to prevent accidental activation
Solution Approach 2:
The safety element is designed with a recess that acts as a protective cushion, absorbing accidental opening forces during transport. This beforehand cushioning prevents the safety element from breaking under normal handling conditions while still allowing intentional opening when needed
2Reliability
If the container is kept closed during transport to protect desiccant material, then the desiccant material remains dry, but the handling and filling operation becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The container is pre-assembled with desiccant material in the cap before transport. This preliminary action ensures the desiccant material is protected and dry during transport, while the pre-assembly simplifies the final filling operation at the destination
Solution Approach 2:
The container design allows the filling operation to be self-contained and simple. The safety element mechanism provides clear feedback (visual indication when broken) that guides the operator through the opening process, making the filling operation straightforward despite the pre-closed state
3Reliability
If a safety element is provided to prevent unintentional opening, then the temper-evident capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety element is merged with the closure cap structure itself. The safety element forms an integral part of the cap, combining the sealing function and the temper-evident function into a single unified structure, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining both functions
Solution Approach 2:
The closure cap structure serves multiple functions: it provides the sealing function, houses the desiccant material, and contains the safety element mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device while maintaining temper-evident capability
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a closure cap for a container, with a hinge and a lid which is intended to be tightened to the rim of a container body, and with a closure element which is movable to a temper-evident position. The closure element 34 is attached to the closure cap 14 and movable to an intermediate position in which the closure cap 14 seals against the rim 18 of the container body 12. Additionally, the closure element 34 is movable from the intermediate position to the temper-evident position in a single stroke.