Detergent Container Lock With Pinch Actuator for Recyclable Materials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Detergent products are sensitive to humidity and require containers that prevent accidental opening while allowing reliable unlocking by adult consumers, especially when made of recyclable materials like cardboard, which pose mechanical challenges.

Innovation Solution

A container design utilizing a 'precision pinch' mechanism with a lock actuator that aligns thumb and finger forces through reciprocal feedback, combined with a support element to enhance stability and prevent accidental opening, using environmentally friendly materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lock mechanism is designed to reliably prevent accidental opening, then the reliability of the container is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the complexity of the unlocking mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of accidental openingVSAvoidunlocking by adult consumers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lock mechanism incorporates reciprocal feedback between the thumb and fingers through the actuator geometry. When a user applies pinching forces, the actuator translates these forces into locking or unlocking actions, providing tactile feedback that confirms the locking state while maintaining simple operation through natural hand gestures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The actuator is designed with specific geometric parameters that allow it to respond to different magnitudes of pinching force. Light pinching forces maintain the locked state, while stronger deliberate pinching forces trigger unlocking, thereby adapting the lock's response based on the applied force parameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If recyclable materials like cardboard are used for the container, then the environmental friendliness is improved, but the mechanical strength deteriorates making the container more susceptible to accidental opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuse of recyclable materialsVSAvoidresistance to accidental opening

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The container employs a composite structure combining cardboard material with a mechanical lock system. The cardboard provides the container body while the lock mechanism, integrated into the cardboard structure, compensates for the material's inherent weakness by providing active security against accidental opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The actuator and locking components utilize curved geometries that distribute mechanical stresses more effectively throughout the cardboard structure. The curved surfaces of the actuator engage with corresponding curved features in the lid and body, creating a more robust locking interface that better resists accidental opening forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP4122835B1Detergent product container with lock and method to operate the locked container

Publication Date: 2025.07.09 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

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AI summary

Examples include a consumer product comprising a box comprising a detergent product, a lid and a lock. The lid comprises flanks covering a specific portion of a sidewall of the box. The lock comprises a specific actuator moveable by applying an actuation pressure, the specific actuator being connected to the specific portion, the flanks comprising a specific actuation area facing the specific actuator and permitting displacing it by applying the actuation pressure.