Dispensing Container with Pivoting Chamber and Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for dispensing solid products, such as pharmaceuticals and tobacco, lack effective child resistance and metered dispensing mechanisms, allowing unrestricted access and compromising sanitation.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a locking mechanism with a dispensing tray that pivots between a closed and locked position and a dispensing position, allowing only one unit of the product to be dispensed at a time, combined with a blocking member to prevent further access when in the dispensing position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional cap requiring downward pressure and twisting is used for child resistance, then child access is restricted, but immediate access to entire contents is provided if opened and the mechanism is complex to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a body and a removable cap that must be completely removed to access contents. The cap incorporates a dual-step child resistance mechanism: first pressing a button to release a latch, then twisting to remove the cap. This segmentation separates the child resistance function from the opening action, making it more reliable while maintaining ease of operation for adults.
Solution Approach 2:
The button-pressing action is performed before twisting the cap. This preliminary action releases a latch mechanism that prevents twisting unless the button is first pressed. This sequence ensures children cannot accidentally open the container while allowing adults to easily open it by following the two simple steps in order.
2Ease of operation
If the container allows free access to all contents, then ease of dispensing is improved, but child resistance and sanitation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A single dose unit is extracted from the bulk contents and placed in a separate dispensing chamber. When the cap is removed, only this isolated unit is accessible, not the entire contents. This extraction provides child resistance by limiting access to one unit while maintaining ease of dispensing for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing chamber acts as an intermediary between the bulk storage and the user. It receives and holds a single pre-measured unit, separating it from the remaining contents. This intermediary mechanism ensures that even if the cap is removed, the child can only access one unit at a time, improving both child resistance and sanitation.
3Productivity
If multiple units are accessible at once, then dispensing speed is improved, but sanitation and precise dosing are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The container automatically performs the dosing function by mechanically separating and presenting one unit at a time in the dispensing chamber. The user does not need to manually count or separate units; the container self-regulates to provide precise metered dosing. This maintains dispensing speed while ensuring accurate dosing and sanitation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A container adapted for dispensing a product is provided, the container including a storage compartment (24) configured to store a plurality of units of a product to be dispensed; a dispensing chamber (56) for receiving at least one unit of the product, the dispensing chamber configured for movement between a closed and locked position and a dispensing position; a dispensing pathway (26) between the storage compartment (24) and the dispensing chamber (56), the dispensing pathway (26) sized for passage of at least one unit of the product; a locking mechanism (28) adapted for releasably locking the dispensing chamber in the closed and locked position; and a blocking member (42) operatively positioned to block the dispensing pathway when the dispensing chamber is in the dispensing position.