Finger-Loop Tamper-Evident Seal for Easy Container Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tamper-resistant/tamper-evident seals for containers are difficult for elderly and individuals with limited finger-grip force or dexterity to open, as they require gripping small, thin flexible tabs, which can lead to insufficient leverage and poor sealing quality.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a 'finger-loop' type tamper-resistant seal with at least two flexible members forming a cavity that allows a user's finger or a tool to exert upward force, eliminating the need to grip a thin flexible pull-tab, and optionally including a rigid upper layer or additional tabs for easier opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a small thin flexible tab is used for seal removal, then the seal provides good sealing and tamper evidence, but users with limited dexterity (elderly, arthritis) have great difficulty gripping and pulling the tab
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple functional layers including a flexible tab layer, adhesive layer, and rigid support layer. The rigid support layer is segmented into a central portion and peripheral portion, creating distinct functional zones that work together to provide both strong sealing and easy opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal combines materials with different mechanical properties: a flexible tab material for easy gripping, a strong adhesive layer for secure bonding, and a rigid support layer for structural integrity and leverage. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between strong sealing and easy opening.
2Ease of operation
If induction energy or adhesive energy is reduced to decrease grip force required, then opening becomes easier, but sealing quality deteriorates leading to contamination and lack of tamper evidence
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the seal have different properties: the tab area is designed for easy gripping with lower local adhesive strength, while the central and peripheral portions maintain strong bonding for reliable sealing. This local differentiation allows easy opening at the tab while preserving overall seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid support layer acts as an intermediary between the flexible tab and the adhesive layer. It provides a lever arm that amplifies the user's gripping force on the flexible tab, translating it into sufficient force to breach the strong adhesive bond without requiring the user to directly grip the adhesive interface.
3Reliability
If a full layer of adhesive is used across the entire seal surface, then sealing is improved, but the tab becomes too large and interferes with closure alignment and threading
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is segmented into a central portion and a peripheral portion with different bonding characteristics. The central portion provides strong sealing where needed, while the peripheral portion has reduced adhesive properties to prevent interference with closure threading and alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal exhibits local quality variations: the central region has full adhesive coverage for strong sealing, while the peripheral region near the tab has reduced adhesive presence. This allows the tab to remain functional for gripping without interfering with the closure mechanism.
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
Enables easier and reliable opening of containers by users with limited dexterity, maintaining effective sealing and tamper evidence without compromising container closure alignment.
Implementation Method 1
these seals commonly have a lower heat-activated sealing layer to secure a periphery of the seal to a rim or other upper surface surrounding a container's opening
Data Source
AI summary
The inventive disclosures described herein pertain to an improved tamper-resistant/tamper-evident (TE) seal for containers of consumer-product-containment vessels (such as, for example, prescription bottles, condiment bottles, etc.) that enables a user to better grip and/or exert force/leverage to more-easily and reliably open such containers. Specifically, it features an improved seal-removal assembly that provides a collapsible finger-receiving aperture that allows a user to insert at least one user finger (or an elongated tool, such as a writing utensil), and exert upward force to breach the container seal.