Child Resistant Flip-Top Closure With Opposed Squeeze Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flip-top dispensing systems lack effective child-resistant mechanisms to prevent access by children and others who cannot recognize the danger, posing a risk of accidental opening and misuse.
Innovation Solution
A flip-top dispensing system with a child-resistant latch mechanism that requires an opposed squeeze to open, featuring a push button and latch mechanism with bias means and latch guides that secure the lid in place, and additional features like tooth guards to prevent prying open with teeth, ensuring the lid can only be opened by applying sufficient pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional flip-top closure is used, then the lid can be easily opened by children, but child safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into multiple functional components: a latch mechanism with latch arms that engage with latch lugs, a push button assembly, and a hinge assembly. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the latch mechanism prevents opening by children while the push button provides a controlled opening method for adults.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The latch arms can move between engaged and disengaged positions, and the push button assembly can be actuated by opposing forces. This dynamic design allows the closure to adapt between a locked state (preventing child opening) and an unlocked state (allowing adult opening through the push button).
2Reliability
If a latch mechanism is added to prevent child opening, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into integrated assemblies. The push button assembly combines the button, latch arms, and biasing mechanism into a single integrated component. The hinge assembly integrates the hinge, latch lugs, and positioning features. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the child resistant function.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is designed to be self-latching. When the closure is assembled, the latch arms automatically engage with the latch lugs to prevent opening. The biasing mechanism automatically returns the latch arms to their engaged position. This self-service design eliminates the need for additional locking components or complex actuation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A child resistant dispensing system having a flip-top closure. The flip-top closure has a push button positioned in the skirt of the flip-top lid wherein an opposed squeeze disengages the child resistant latch mechanism. The child resistant latch mechanism includes a latch projecting from the flip-top lid and engaging a projection of the closure body. A latch guide assists in positioning the latch during engagement with the projection of the closure body. The push button may be positioned substantially flush with the outside surface of the flip-top lid and closure body.