Container Closure Assembly With Visual Seal Integrity Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure systems for containers, such as vials, fail to efficiently verify or ensure the integrity of the container closure, making it difficult to detect tampering or ensure the contents remain in an appropriate condition for medical or chemical applications.
Innovation Solution
A closure system comprising an elastic stopper member with a plug portion and cover portion, a cage member to apply force for tight sealing, and an integrity visualization member to indicate the integrity of the closure, allowing visual verification of the closure's integrity without opening the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional stoppers and caps are used to close containers, then tight sealing is achieved, but integrity verification becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color change indicators that visually signal when a container has been opened or tampered with. The integrity visualization member changes color or provides visual feedback when the seal is broken, allowing easy detection of integrity loss without complex inspection procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary integrity visualization member that mediates between the closure system and the observer. This component provides visual information about seal integrity, acting as a communication bridge between the physical seal state and human observation without requiring direct inspection of the seal itself.
2Reliability
If caps or cages are used to hold stoppers in pressed state, then tightness is maintained, but integrity monitoring is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the closure system into distinct functional components: the cap/cage for mechanical retention and the integrity visualization member for monitoring. This segmentation allows the cap to maintain tightness while the visualization member independently provides integrity information through visual indicators.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrity visualization member incorporates color-changing elements that provide visual feedback about closure integrity. When the cap or cage is removed or compromised, the color change indicates loss of integrity, enabling monitoring without requiring the cap to be transparent or removable for inspection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If containers are sealed to prevent tampering, then security is improved, but verification of integrity becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The integrity visualization member provides self-service verification by automatically indicating when integrity is compromised. The system monitors its own state and provides visual feedback without requiring external verification equipment or complex inspection procedures, simplifying the verification process while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color-changing indicators that automatically signal tampering or integrity loss. This simple visual mechanism provides robust tampering prevention verification without requiring complex electronic sensors, databases, or verification equipment, keeping the system simple while effectively detecting security breaches.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures the integrity of the container closure is maintained, preventing tampering and allowing easy visual detection of any manipulation, thus ensuring the contents remain intact and suitable for use.
Implementation Method 1
a stopper member made of an elastic material having a plug portion configured to fit into an opening of the container and a cover portion configured to abut a boundary surface adjacent to the opening of the container
Implementation Method 2
The cage member is configured to be mounted to the container and to apply a force to the cover portion of the stopper member to push the cover portion of the stopper member onto the boundary surface of the opening of the container
Data Source
AI summary
A closure system for closing a container opening is disclosed that includes a stopper member, a cage member for mounting to a container, a cover member reversibly mountable to the cage member, and an integrity visualization member. The stopper member has a plug portion to fit into the container opening and a cover portion to abut a boundary surface of the container opening. The plug portion of the stopper member is fitted into the opening of the container and the cage member is mounted to the container. The cage member applies a force to the cover portion to push the cover portion onto the boundary surface of the container opening. The cover member covers an aperture of the cage member when mounted to the cage member. The integrity visualization member indicates an integrity of the closure system and is positioned between the cover portion and the cage member.