Container Lid Actuator Area for Child-Safe Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers with enhanced child safety and transport safety features are difficult for children to open unintentionally, and may unintentionally open during transport, such as when falling from a height, due to complex manipulation requirements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an actuator area that, when activated by force, reduces the required force to disengage the fastening means between the lid extension and the container, allowing for easier opening without destroying the fastening means, and enhancing the container's transport safety by making unintentional opening less likely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple fastening means are provided between lid extension and container, then child safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into multiple independent fastening means (first fastening means and second fastening means) that must both be operated to open the container. This segmentation creates a multi-step opening process that is difficult for children to bypass, thereby improving child safety while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid extension with fastening means is预先 attached to the lid during manufacturing, creating a pre-assembled unit. This preliminary action ensures that the fastening means are already in place and properly positioned before the container is sealed, simplifying the closing operation while maintaining the complexity of the opening process for child safety.
2Reliability
If tamper-evident closure is provided, then child safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The opening process is segmented into distinct steps: first operating the tamper-evident closure, then operating the lid extension fastening means. This segmentation creates a clear sequence of operations that must be followed, improving child safety by preventing accidental opening while allowing intentional opening by adults who can follow the steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The tamper-evident closure is designed to be operated first as a preliminary step before accessing the lid extension fastening means. This preliminary action creates a controlled access point that must be opened first, thereby improving child safety while maintaining ease of operation for adults who can systematically follow the opening sequence.
3Ease of operation
If actuator area is added to reduce disengagement force, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator area is applied locally at specific positions on the container body near the fastening means, rather than redesigning the entire structure. This localized modification allows for easier operation of the fastening means by providing a mechanical advantage point, thereby improving ease of operation while adding minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator area serves as an intermediary element between the user's applied force and the fastening means. By providing this intermediate mechanical structure, the user's force is amplified or redirected to more effectively disengage the fastening means, improving ease of operation without requiring complex internal mechanisms.
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 design significantly increases child safety and transport safety by making it difficult for children to open the container unintentionally and reducing the likelihood of accidental opening during transport, while allowing for easy closure and repeated use.
Implementation Method 1
the lid and/or the container has an actuator area to be actuated by application of a force... the actuator area is designed as an elastically deformable and/or reversibly displaceable area
Implementation Method 2
the fastening means between lid extension and container are frictionally locking means
Implementation Method 3
the fastening means between lid extension and container are positively locking means, particularly preferably they are generally embodied in the form of latching means
Data Source
AI summary
A container has an upper container edge and a fully circumferential lateral wall and an upper container opening closed by a lid. A latching rim is provided near the upper container edge for connection with a corresponding latching rim provided on the lid. The lid has a lid rim portion arranged above the upper container edge. The lid has at least one extension extending outside the lateral container wall and below the lid lower edge. The extension and container have mutually corresponding fasteners independently releasable of the latching rims. The lid and/or the container has an actuator area different from the fasteners on the lid extension and the container and/or from the lid extension itself. When the actuator area has been actuated, the fasteners between the lid extension and the container are more easily releasable and, where applicable, easier to close.