Dispensing Closure Squeeze-and-Turn Child-Resistant Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing closures for child-resistant containers do not effectively combine 'squeeze and turn' child-resistant features with easy removal mechanisms, leading to user frustration and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing closure design featuring a cup base with an inner and outer skirt, a deck, and a measuring cup that incorporates 'squeeze and turn' child-resistant features, allowing for threadable removal of the measuring cup by disengaging latch hook members after applying force, ensuring secure product dispensing and easy detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If latch hook members are used to secure the measuring cup to the cup base, then child-resistant security is improved, but ease of removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latch hook members are designed to transition from a locked state (engaging the measuring cup) to an unlocked state (disengaged) through the application of squeezing force. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to adapt between secure and removable states based on user input, resolving the contradiction between security and ease of removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch hook mechanism changes its mechanical parameters (engagement force, position) in response to squeezing force applied to the outer skirt. When force is applied, the latch hooks deform or shift position to disengage from the measuring cup, allowing removal. This parameter change enables both secure attachment and controlled removal.
2Ease of operation
If threadable engagement is provided between the inner skirt and measuring cup, then ease of removal is improved, but child-resistant security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two engagement mechanisms: latch hook members for child-resistant security and threadable engagement for ease of removal. The latch hooks provide the primary security function, while the threads provide a secondary mechanism that becomes accessible only after the latch hooks are disengaged through squeezing. This merging allows both security and ease of removal to coexist in a sequential manner.
3Reliability
If the cup base structure is made complex with inner and outer skirts, then child-resistant security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cup base employs a nested structure where the inner skirt is positioned within the outer skirt. The inner skirt contains the threadable engagement mechanism, while the outer skirt contains the latch hook members. This nesting arrangement achieves complex functionality (dual engagement mechanisms) while maintaining a compact, integrated form factor that minimizes overall structural complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A dispensing closure (10) for dispensing from a container (12) includes a cup base (14) and a measuring cup (16). The cup base (14) has an inner skirt (15) configured to engage a neck (28) of the container (12) and the measuring cup (16). An outer skirt (18) of the cup base (14) has latch hook members (30A, 30B) to engage the measuring cup (16). The outer skirt (18) has latch hook areas (32A, 32B) configured to disengage the at least one or more latch hook members (30A, 30B). The measuring cup (16) has a stepped shoulder (42A) for engaging the latch hook members (30A, 30B) of the cup base (14). In operation, a force is applied to the latch hook areas (32A, 32B) to disengage the one or more latch hook members (30A, 30B) from the stepped shoulder (42A) and remove the measuring cup (16).