Dispensing Closure Locking Member Prevents Inadvertent Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toggle action dispensing closures are susceptible to inadvertent opening during manufacturing, shipping, or handling, leading to premature leaking of fluent substances, and existing solutions like adhesive seals or film wraps increase costs and user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing closure with a locking member that rotates about a central axis, featuring an actuator that occludes the flow passage in a closed position and allows dispensing when rotated to an open position, and includes design elements like abutments and resilient projections for secure locking and unlocking, along with audible and tactile signals for user confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive seals or film wraps are applied to prevent inadvertent opening, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into distinct functional segments: a closure body, a rotatable locking member with locking features, and an actuator. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, eliminating the need for additional adhesive seals or film wraps while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member incorporates self-latching features that automatically engage and disengage based on the actuator's position. The resilient locking features provide automatic locking without requiring external seals or wraps, and the system self-regulates to prevent inadvertent opening while simplifying the overall structure.
2Reliability
If adhesive seals or film wraps are applied to prevent inadvertent opening, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure components (closure body, locking member, actuator) are designed as separate manufacturable units that can be produced independently using standard molding techniques, eliminating the need for additional sealing materials and reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-latching mechanism uses inherent elastic properties of the locking features to provide automatic engagement and disengagement, eliminating the need for adhesive seals or film wraps and the associated manufacturing costs while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If a locking member with abutments and resilient projections is used, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides locking through resilient locking features, actuation through the actuator, and flow control through the flow passage. This merging reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining reliable locking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it locks the closure, controls fluid flow, and provides the actuation interface. The abutments and resilient projections work together within this single component to provide reliable locking without requiring additional separate mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A dispensing closure (40) for a fluent substance-containing system, such as a container, includes a body (54) for receiving the fluent substance from the system, a locking member (56) assembled with the body (54), and a pivotable actuator (60) assembled with the locking member (56) and defining a dispensing flow passage (190) for discharging the fluent substance. The locking member (56) is rotatable relative to the body (54) from a locking position to an unlocking position to permit a user to pivot the actuator (60) from a closed position to a dispensing, open position. The body (54) has an abutment (110) that extends through the locking member (56) in the locking position to prevent the actuator (60) from moving into the open position. In the unlocking position of the locking member (56), the actuator (60) is not prevented by the abutment (110) from being moved into the open position.