Container Closure With Dual Lugs and Asymmetric Protrusions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional container assemblies with locking closures become difficult for intended users, such as the elderly and those with disabilities, to access, and are not effectively child-resistant.
Innovation Solution
A container assembly with a closure system featuring two latching protrusions and dual lugs that require a significant rotational movement (at least 60° to 90°) for locking and unlocking, providing stability and resistance to undesired opening while being graspable by adults but difficult for children.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional locking closures are used to provide child-resistance, then child-resistance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates for elderly users and those with disabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the closure by requiring a specific rotational movement (at least 60° to 90°) rather than simple lifting or twisting. This parameter change maintains child-resistance while being achievable by adults with various abilities, including the elderly and disabled, as it does not require excessive force or dexterity
Solution Approach 2:
The closure system is segmented into distinct functional elements: the closure itself, the neck with exterior surface, and the latching protrusions. This segmentation allows the locking mechanism to be distributed across multiple contact points (lugs engaging with protrusions), providing stability and resistance to undesired opening while maintaining ease of intentional operation
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple latching points are used to prevent undesired opening, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs asymmetric positioning of the latching protrusions on the neck exterior surface, with each protrusion located at different angular positions. This asymmetric arrangement provides stable locking engagement while maintaining simplicity in the overall structure, avoiding the need for symmetric multi-point latching systems that would increase complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A container assembly comprising a container and a closure. The container includes a body defining a storage chamber and a neck. The neck extends away from the body and defines an open mouth providing access to the storage chamber. The neck further defines an exterior surface and at least two latching protrusions extending radially outwardly from the exterior surface. The closure includes a top wall, a cylindrical wall extending downwardly from the top wall, a first lug extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall, and a second lug extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall. A top surface of the first lug and a top surface of the second lug are each positioned a substantially identical distance away from the top wall and the first lug and the second lug are each configured to selectively lock with a common one of the at least two latching protrusions.