Child-Resistant E-Cigarette Pack Latching Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic cigarette packs are not child-resistant, allowing easy access by minors, which is undesirable for consumer safety.
Innovation Solution
A pack design featuring a latching mechanism with resilient members that require significant force and dexterity to open, including fingerprint recognition for enhanced security, ensuring that both pairs of latching members must be actuated simultaneously to release the lid, making it difficult for children to access the contents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple pack design is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but child-resistance is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism is divided into multiple independent resilient latching members (at least two) distributed at different locations on the pack. Each latching member operates independently but must be actuated simultaneously to open the pack, creating a segmented security system that is more reliable than a single latching point while remaining manufacturable using standard molding techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching members are designed as resilient (flexible) elements that can dynamically deform under applied force and return to their original position. This dynamic characteristic allows the pack to be easily opened by adults who can apply sufficient force while remaining resistant to children who cannot overcome the resilient force, without requiring complex mechanical structures.
2Reliability
If a latching mechanism requiring significant force is used, then child-resistance is improved, but ease of operation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient latching members are strategically positioned at multiple locations on the pack structure, creating localized security points. Each latching member provides focused resistance at its specific location, and the combination of multiple localized resistance points creates overall child-resistance while allowing the rest of the pack structure to remain simple and easy to manufacture.
3Reliability
If multiple resilient latching members are used, then child-resistance is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient latching members serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical latching to secure the pack, offer child-resistance through their resilient force, and enable easy opening for adults when sufficient force is applied. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable child-resistance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pack effectively prevents children from opening it by requiring a level of understanding and dexterity beyond their capabilities, ensuring secure storage of electronic cigarette cartridges.
Implementation Method 1
first resilient latching members provided at opposite end regions or opposite side walls of the container component to resiliently engage with complementary first latching elements provided on the lid component. The first resilient latching members are configured to be pressed towards one another to disengage the complementary first latching elements
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The invention provides a pack (12) for at least one consumer article, especially at least one electronic cigarette cartridge (14). The pack (12) comprises a container component (16) for accommodating a consumer article, a lid component (22) configured for assembly with the container component (16) for covering or closing an open side of the container component (16), and a latching mechanism for holding the lid component (22) in a latched state fixed on the container component (16). The latching mechanism includes first resilient latching members (28a, 28b) provided at opposite end regions or opposite side walls (20) of the container component (16) for resiliently engaging with complementary first latching elements (30a, 30b) provided on the lid component (22), wherein the first resilient latching members (28a, 28b) are configured to be pressed towards one another to disengage the complementary first latching elements (30a, 30b) and release the latching mechanism in order to remove the lid component (22).