Molded Plastic Container Collar with Frangible Tear Strip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing molded plastic container designs lack an effective mechanism for easy access to the lower edge of the closure, posing a challenge for users and potentially creating a choking hazard for infants or small children, while also failing to provide clear indication of tampering or previous openings.
Innovation Solution
A molded plastic container assembly featuring a frangible tear line in a radial collar around the upper rim, allowing for the removal of a large tear strip to provide manual access to the closure's lower edge, reducing the risk of choking hazards and indicating tampering or previous openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closure is sealed on the container to protect contents, then security and protection are improved, but access to the lower edge of the closure becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is segmented into a removable tear strip portion and a remaining collar portion. The tear strip can be easily torn off along frangible lines, exposing the lower edge of the closure for access while the remaining collar maintains the sealed relationship between the closure and container.
2Ease of operation
If a small tear strip is provided for access, then ease of operation is improved, but choking hazard increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tear strip is designed to extend around a significant portion of the container's circumference in the radial direction, creating a large-area removal portion. This dimensional approach provides ample finger space for accessing the closure while the removed strip's size and shape reduce choking risks compared to smaller traditional tear strips.
3Reliability
If the collar is made integral with the container to prevent closure removal, then closure security is improved, but access to the closure becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is pre-configured with frangible tear lines that allow for controlled removal of the tear strip portion. This preliminary design enables the collar to maintain its closure-retaining function while providing a predetermined access path that can be activated when needed.
4Strength
If no tear strip is provided to maintain collar integrity, then structural strength is improved, but indication of tampering is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is divided into a removable tear strip and a remaining portion. When the tear strip is removed, it creates a visible gap or indication that the container has been opened, while the remaining collar maintains the structural integrity needed to retain the closure.
Data Source
AI summary
A molded plastic container assembly comprising an open top container and a closure which sealingly fits on the top of the container. A collar is integral with the container sidewall just below the top rim to provide a space into which the lower edge of the closure skirt extends to prevent removal closure until a tear strip formed in the collar is removed. The tear strip in the collar extends fully through one corner of the container assembly and at least half way toward both of the adjacent corners to provide substantial area of access to the closure lower edge as well make the tear strip to large to present a choking hazard to small children.