Container Seal With Controlled-Break Latch for Secure Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container seals for sterile supply containers lack security and visibility, are prone to unintentional opening, require manual alignment for destruction, and create uncontrollable fragments upon removal.

Innovation Solution

A container seal design featuring a locking bolt with a push-in/latch compartment, a clip or tab with a predetermined bending line, and a bolt or bar with a latch device, allowing controlled destruction and visibility from multiple sides, while maintaining the seal's functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the predetermined breaking point is reinforced to prevent unintentional opening, then security is improved, but the force required to manually destroy the seal is significantly higher

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against unintentional openingVSAvoidforce required to manually destroy seal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is divided into two functional parts: a locking bolt that provides security and a separate latch device that breaks at a predetermined point. This segmentation allows the locking mechanism to remain strong while the latch device provides a weak point that requires minimal force to destroy, resolving the contradiction between security and ease of manual destruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The latch device acts as an intermediary element between the locking bolt and the container opening mechanism. It transfers the breaking action from the secure locking bolt to a separate component designed to fail easily, allowing the main locking mechanism to remain secure while providing a low-force destruction path through the latch device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the seal is pulled out unintentionally, then the opening/closing mechanism can be opened, but security is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of seal removalVSAvoidsecurity against unintentional opening

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The latch device is extracted as a separate functional component from the locking bolt. It is designed to be removed or broken independently through normal opening operations, while the locking bolt remains in place to maintain security. This extraction allows the seal to be operationally removable without compromising the security of the main locking mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal transitions from a static locking state to a dynamic operational state through the latch device. The latch can be actively engaged and disengaged through opening/closing operations, providing controlled ease of operation, while the locking bolt maintains a persistent secure state that prevents unintentional opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the seal must be aligned transversely to the direction of movement for destruction, then the locking mechanism is secure, but the force must be applied directly to the seal manually

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking mechanism securityVSAvoidease of seal destruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The latch device serves as an intermediary that converts the opening/closing mechanism movement into seal destruction. Instead of requiring direct manual force on the transverse-aligned seal, the latch device is positioned and oriented such that normal opening movements automatically destroy it, combining security with ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The latch device is pre-positioned and pre-oriented during seal installation to be destroyed by the anticipated opening/closing movements. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for manual alignment or direct force application during destruction, as the geometry is already set to convert operational movements into seal breaking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If the seal is located on only one wall side of the container, then the structure is simple, but visibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal structure simplicityVSAvoidseal visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking bolt and latch device are merged into a single seal assembly that can be positioned to provide visibility from multiple sides. This combined structure maintains structural simplicity while enabling multi-directional visibility, as the integrated design allows the seal to be observed from different angles without requiring multiple separate sealing components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12442231B2Container seal

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 AESCULAP AG

AI summary

A container seal includes a locking bolt, which has on one end portion or central portion thereof a push-in/latch compartment which is open in the transverse direction relative to the lock axis and is formed or provided with an undercut acting in the direction of the latch compartment opening; a clip or tab, wherein the clip or tab is arranged on the other end portion of the locking bolt; and a bolt or bar which is arranged on the free end/end portion of the clip or tab and has on the free end/end portion thereof a latch device which is coupled to the bolt via a predetermined breaking point.