Flip-Top Closure Tamper-Evident Hook Crossbar Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage closures with tamper-evident systems, such as drop bands and tear-off bands, lack clear visual indication of opening and pose litter and choking hazards due to small, separated components.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece flip-top dispensing closure with a tamper-evident member, including a hook or catch, that engages with a crossbar upon initial opening, ensuring clear visual evidence of tampering and preventing litter hazards by retaining the tamper-evident member on the base.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tear-off bands are removed from closure body upon first opening, then tamper evidence is provided, but litter and choking hazards are created due to small separated tabs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the tamper-evident function with the closure body itself by forming the tamper-evident member as an integral part of the closure that remains attached after opening, rather than separating it as a small tab. This merging eliminates litter hazards while maintaining tamper evidence through visible separation lines or broken bridges on the closure body.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a tamper-evident member with frangible bridges that can break to indicate opening, while remaining physically connected to the closure body. This segmentation allows the tamper-evident function to be separated from the dispensing function, enabling clear visual indication without creating small hazardous pieces.
2Reliability
If drop bands are released from closure side wall upon first opening, then tamper evidence is provided, but clear visual indication on remaining closure is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible bridges are pre-positioned and pre-stressed during manufacturing to break at a predetermined location upon opening. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the closure is opened, the bridges break cleanly to create visible separation lines or gaps that clearly indicate the opening event, preventing ambiguity about whether the closure was previously opened.
Solution Approach 2:
The tamper-evident member may incorporate color changes or visual indicators that become apparent when the frangible bridges break. This can include colored bridges that snap apart to reveal different colors, or visual gaps that clearly show the separation, enhancing the visual indication of tampering or opening.
3Loss of information
If tamper-evident member is frangibly connected to lid, then clear visual indication of opening is achieved, but the member may become detached and create litter
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper-evident member is nested within or integrated into the closure body structure, with frangible bridges that break to indicate opening but leave the member physically attached to the closure. This nesting ensures the member cannot become detached and create litter, while still providing clear visual indication through the broken bridge configuration or separation lines visible on the closure surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A single-piece flip-top dispensing closure (10) is provided. The closure comprises a base (15) and a lid (20) joined by a hinge (25). The base is attachable to a container neck and includes an integral spout (45). A tamper-evident member is frangibly connected to the lid. The tamper-evident member includes a hook (85). The base is provided with a raised crossbar (550) under which the hook engages with the closure in an initially closed condition. When the lid is initially opened the interaction between the crossbar and the hook causes the tamper-evident member to release from the lid.