Convertible Child Resistant Closure with Axial Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child-resistant closures are costly and difficult for adults with impaired manual dexterity to open, and often not reclosed properly, defeating their purpose, while being vulnerable to being opened by children with sufficient strength and intellect.
Innovation Solution
A convertible child-resistant closure with coaxial inner and outer caps, featuring a child-resistant mode that requires rotational and axial force to open and a non-child-resistant mode that can be easily opened with minimal effort, by using angular abutments and protrusions/sockets to lock the caps together for easy rotation in the non-child-resistant configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a child-resistant closure is used to prevent accidental opening by children, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates for adults with impaired manual dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The closure transitions from a static child-resistant state to a dynamic system that can switch between child-resistant and easy-open modes. The inner cap can be axially moved relative to the outer cap to change the engagement state of the abutments, allowing the closure to adapt its resistance characteristics based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure changes the parameter of axial position between the inner and outer caps to switch between functional modes. When the inner cap is in the first axial position, the abutments engage to provide child-resistant protection. When moved to the second axial position, the abutments disengage to allow easy opening.
2Reliability
If a child-resistant closure is designed with engaging abutments to prevent opening, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is segmented into distinct functional regions: the inner cap with outwardly extending abutments and the outer cap with inwardly extending abutments. This segmentation allows each component to have specialized engagement features that work together to provide child-resistant protection while maintaining relative structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner cap is nested within the outer cap, with both caps sharing a common axial space. The abutments on both caps are positioned to engage with each other in this nested configuration, creating a compact structure that provides child-resistant protection without requiring additional external components.
3Reliability
If the inner and outer caps are tightly fitted to prevent cocking, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates for converting between modes
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is pre-configured with the inner cap positioned in the first axial position where the abutments are engaged, providing immediate child-resistant protection upon assembly. The structure is designed so that normal use maintains this engaged state, and conversion to the easy-open mode requires deliberate axial movement to disengage the abutments.
Data Source
AI summary
A convertible child resistant closure for use with a container having a threaded portion adjacent the container opening allows a user to select between a child resistant closure and an easily openable closure and includes coaxial inner and outer caps. The inner cap has a cover wall and a side wall. The side wall includes an inner surface having a threaded portion for engagement with a threaded container opening, and an outer surface including a child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a non-child resistant portion axially offset from said child resistant portion. Features of a side wall of the outer cap selectively engage features of the inner cap side wall in either a configuration for the child resistant closure or a configuration for the easily openable (non-child-resistant) closure.