Dispensing Container with Pivotable Casing and Aperture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Blister packs are not ergonomic for carrying, lack discretion, and can be accidentally punctured, with child-resistant features making them difficult to use.

Innovation Solution

A dispensing container with a pivotable upper and lower casing, a shoulder to support the blister pack, and a dispensing aperture that can be opened and closed, along with child-resistant mechanisms such as buttons or a retention member, to securely store and dispense products from blister packs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If child-resistant features are added to blister packs, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechild-resistanceVSAvoiddifficulty to use
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into two separate casings (first casing and second casing) that can be relative moved with respect to each other. The packet is disposed between these casings, creating distinct functional zones: one for secure storage and one for controlled dispensing. This segmentation allows the child-resistant locking mechanism to operate independently from the dispensing mechanism, resolving the contradiction between security and ease of use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A dispensing aperture is introduced as an intermediary element between the packet and the external environment. This aperture allows controlled access to the dispensing zone where products can be removed without requiring full access to the packet. The aperture acts as a mediator that maintains child-resistance while enabling legitimate users to access products easily.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If blister packs are made compact for portability, then ease of carrying is improved, but accessibility to products deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompactnessVSAvoidaccessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container creates separate functional zones through the two casings: a storage zone where the compact packet resides and a dispensing zone accessible through the aperture. This segmentation allows the overall container to maintain a compact form factor while providing easy access to products through the dispensing aperture without requiring the user to manipulate the entire packet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If discrete access to individual products is enabled, then product security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct securityVSAvoidcontainer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container structure with two relative movable casings creates distinct storage and dispensing zones, enabling discrete access to individual products while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The packet itself maintains its simple blister pack design with sealed cavities, and the container adds minimal structural complexity through the two-casing arrangement with a dispensing aperture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2872419B1Dispensing container and related method
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 R J REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
  • EP2872419B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2872419B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2872419B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A packaged product assembly (100) is provided. The packaged product assembly may include a packet (104)received in a dispensing container (102). The packet (104) may be a blister packet including units of a product (132) received in sealed cavities (130). The dispensing container (102) may include an upper casing (106) and a lower casing (108). The upper casing (106) may be pivotably connected to the lower casing (108) such that the upper casing (106) is moveable between a closed position in which access to the packet (104) is substantially blocked, and an open position in which access to the packet (104) is provided. The packet (104) may be supported by a shoulder (118) defined at an inner surface (120) of sidewalls (114) of the lower casing (108) such that a receptacle (124) is formed between the packet (104) and a major wall (112) of the lower casing. A unit of the product (132) released from one of the sealed cavities (130) may be received in the receptacle (124) and dispensed via a dispensing aperture (142).