Tamper-Evident Closure With Interleaved Retaining Fingers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container closure technologies lack an effective tamper-evident mechanism that is both secure and visually verifiable, which is crucial for ensuring product integrity and consumer safety.
Innovation Solution
A closure structure featuring a ring with inwardly projecting fingers that engage a container rim's bead, providing a tamper-evident assembly where the engagement is visible and the fingers are removable upon frangible disconnection, enhancing security and visibility of tampering attempts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closure structure with tamper-evident mechanism is implemented, then product integrity and consumer safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into distinct functional segments: a body portion for covering the discharge, projecting portions for engagement with the container rim, a separate ring component, and retaining fingers. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity and tamper-evident capabilities without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining fingers are positioned within the spacing between adjacent projecting portions, creating a nested arrangement where smaller elements (fingers) are contained within the structural framework of larger elements (projecting portions). This nesting optimizes space utilization and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining tamper-evident functionality.
2Reliability
If retaining fingers are added to engage the bead for secure engagement, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining fingers are integrated with the ring structure, forming a unified component assembly. This merging of functions (retention and structural support) into a single integrated element achieves secure engagement with the container bead while avoiding the complexity of separate independent retention mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining fingers are positioned at specific locations around the closure perimeter where engagement with the container bead is most effective. This localized placement of retention features provides secure engagement only where needed, rather than requiring complex engagement structures throughout the entire closure assembly.
3Measurement precision
If the engagement of fingers with the bead is made visible through spacing, then measurement precision of tamper evidence is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing between projecting portions acts as an intermediary that allows visual inspection of the engagement status. This natural gap in the structure serves as a viewing window without requiring additional transparent windows, indicators, or complex detection mechanisms, thereby achieving tamper evidence visibility while minimizing added complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the ring and fingers are removed upon frangible disconnection, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible connection is pre-designed to disconnect at a specific weak point, enabling easy removal of the ring and fingers without requiring complex tools or procedures. This preliminary design of a predetermined failure point simplifies the removal operation while the fact that disconnection requires deliberate action maintains tamper evidence integrity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2
AI summary
A closure (14) for covering an opening in a container (12) and engaging a peripheral rim (18) defining the opening. The closure (14) includes a body (24) for covering the container opening and a plurality of projecting portions (30) that extend from a periphery of the body (24). The projecting portions (30) are spaced from one another around the periphery of the body (24), with each formed to surround a portion of the container rim (18). A ring (28) is connected to the projecting portions (30) and surrounds the container rim (18). A plurality of retaining fingers (34) are provided, with each finger spaced from one another and interleaved within the spacing between adjacent projecting portions (30). The fingers (34) project inwardly from the ring and include a projected end for engagement with the container rim. The projected ends of the fingers include a varied or undulating surface.