Reversibly Deformable Tray for Electronic Smoking Device Child Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic smoking devices, such as e-cigarettes, pose a risk of accidental ingestion or misuse by children due to the potential harm of their components, necessitating a child-safe containment solution.
Innovation Solution
A tray designed for electronic smoking devices that can be reversibly deformed by adult users to access the device while maintaining the components in an inaccessible state for children, utilizing interaction elements spaced at least 90% of the average distance between thumb tip and index finger tip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the tray is designed with interaction elements spaced at least 90% of the average distance between thumb tip and index finger tip, then child safety is improved (children cannot access the device), but device complexity increases (requiring specific dimensional design)
Solution Approach 1:
The tray design changes the physical parameter of interaction element spacing to at least 90% of the average distance between thumb tip and index finger tip. This parameter change creates a physical barrier that prevents children from simultaneously pressing both interaction elements, thereby resolving the contradiction between child safety and design complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the tray is designed to be reversibly deformed by adult users, then ease of operation is improved (adults can access the device), but device complexity increases (requiring deformable structure)
Solution Approach 1:
The tray incorporates a deformable structure that transitions between a closed state (preventing access) and an open state (allowing access). This dynamic design enables the tray to adapt its configuration based on user interaction, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation for adults and structural complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the tray provides cavity for containing the device, then child safety is improved (device is contained and inaccessible), but ease of operation worsens (adults must deform the tray to access)
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is pre-configured with interaction elements positioned at specific distances apart, requiring a preliminary action (pressing both elements simultaneously) to deform the tray and access the device. This preliminary action requirement ensures child safety while allowing adult access, resolving the contradiction between containment and ease of operation.
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 tray effectively prevents unauthorized access to the electronic smoking device by children, ensuring the components remain inaccessible until the tray is intentionally deformed by an adult.
Implementation Method 1
The tray is configured to be reversibly deformed from a default form (also referred to as undeformed shape) into a deformed form (also referred to as deformed shape) by finger interaction of at least two separate fingers of a user with interaction elements of the tray
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to electronic smoking devices and in particular to a tray for at least a portion of an electronic smoking device. The tray (100) comprises at least one cavity (101) for containing the portion. The tray (100) is configured to be reversibly deformed from a default form into a deformed form by finger interaction with interaction elements of the tray (100) having a distance to each other of at least 90% of the average distance between thumb tip and index finger tip or a middle finger tip of an adult. The tray (100) is configured to return to the default form once the finger interaction is terminated. The default form provides the at least one cavity (101) for containing the portion in an inaccessible manner and the deformed form is required for accessing the portion.