Plastic Closure Integrity Element with Pivoting Detent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plastic closures with integrity guarantee elements face issues such as tampering, improper disposal, difficulty in assembly on machines, and safety concerns for small children, particularly with separate loose parts and complex mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A plastic closure design featuring a first detent means with a predetermined breaking point that pivots out to release a second detent means upon initial opening, ensuring the integrity guarantee element remains attached and preventing falling, while being simple to produce and assemble, with a mechanism that indicates first-time opening through visible deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate guarantee band is used as integrity guarantee element, then visibility and tamper resistance are improved, but device complexity and risk of falling off increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the integrity guarantee element directly into the closure structure by forming it as an integral part of the lid or lower part through injection molding. This merging eliminates the need for separate guarantee bands while maintaining the integrity indication function, thereby reducing device complexity and eliminating falling off risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure structure is designed to serve multiple functions: the integrity guarantee element is built-in to provide both the sealing function and the integrity indication function simultaneously. This multi-functionality approach eliminates the need for additional separate components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If integrity guarantee element is made as separate loose part, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but safety for small children and anti-tampering capability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The integrity guarantee element is molded as an integral part of the closure structure, eliminating separate loose parts that could pose safety risks to small children. The built-in design ensures that no small detachable components are released during opening, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through one-piece injection molding.
3Reliability
If complex mechanism is used for integrity indication, then reliability of indication is improved, but ease of assembly on machines and productivity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The integrity indication mechanism is integrated into the closure structure itself, eliminating the need for separate complex indicating mechanisms. The built-in design allows for simple one-piece injection molding and straightforward assembly on conventional packaging lines, maintaining high productivity while ensuring reliable integrity indication.
Data Source
AI summary
A plastic closure includes a lower part, a lid, integrally connected to the lower part via a hinge, and at least one integrity guarantee element to indicate if the plastic closure has ever been opened. The plastic closure further includes at least one first detent element and at least one second detent element, and the at least one first detent element forms at least one integrity guarantee element and in the closed state and before the plastic closure is opened for the first time is in engagement with the at least one second detent element. The first detent element has a predetermined breaking point, and, when the plastic closure is opened for the first time via a pivoting movement of the lid, the predetermined breaking point can be broken and at least one part of the first detent element is configured to swing out to release the second detent element.