Frangible Puller for Tamper-Evident Hinged Lid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plastic containers for liquid foods are difficult to prevent unauthorized opening and cannot be easily identified if opened, as they may be resealed and staples can break the cover, making it hard for staff to determine if the container has been tampered with.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a casing with a snapping device, a puller with a weakened portion that irreversibly curves when lifted, and a pre-broken line to indicate unauthorized opening, ensuring the cover cannot be resealed and indicating tampering through a visible deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a snapper and puller are used to temporarily position and open the cover, then the cover can be opened, but the container cannot be easily identified as unauthorizedly opened because the cover is flexible and can be reinstated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a visible indicator element that changes its appearance or position to signal tampering. The indicator is arranged to be visible in the closed state and provides clear visual evidence when the cover is opened, solving the identification problem while maintaining ease of opening through the puller mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a pre-broken line on the puller that is designed to break at a specific point during opening. This preliminary structural feature ensures that once the container is opened, there is immediate and irreversible visual evidence of tampering, preventing the cover from being reinstated without detection.
2Reliability
If staples are used to position the cover, then unauthorized opening is prevented, but the casing or cover may be broken and the container cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable frangible sealing element that is designed to be broken during legitimate opening. This element provides tamper evidence and prevents unauthorized opening, while its sacrificial nature means it is replaced after use, ensuring container integrity for reuse rather than damaging the permanent casing or cover structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is separated from the permanent container structure. The frangible sealing element is a distinct, replaceable component that provides the security function, while the casing and cover remain intact and reusable. This segmentation allows the security feature to be consumed without compromising the container's structural integrity.
3Reliability
If a pre-broken line is formed on the puller, then tamper evidence is provided, but the puller structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-broken line is incorporated into the puller's manufacturing process as a preliminary feature. This simple structural modification creates a controlled weakness that breaks at a predetermined point during opening, providing reliable tamper evidence without requiring complex mechanisms, sensors, or additional components.
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 container effectively prevents unauthorized openings and allows easy identification of unauthorized access by the irreversible curvature of the puller, enhancing security and usability.
Implementation Method 1
A weakened portion 50 is formed on at least one place of the puller 30 such that the puller 30 is irreversibly curved after being lifted due to the weakened portion 50
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A container (A) includes a casing (10) having an opening and a first abutting edge (11) surrounding the opening. A cover (20) is selectively mounted onto the casing for closing the opening, wherein the cover has a second abutting edge laterally extending therefrom and abutting against the first abutting edge when the cover closes the opening. A puller (30) extends from the second abutting edge of the cover. A snapping device (40) is formed between the casing and the puller. The snapping device includes a plug (41) separably formed on the puller and a socket (42) defined in the casing for receiving and holding the plug in place. A weakened portion (43) is formed on the puller such that the puller is irreversibly curved after being lifted, the curved puller and the plug held in the socket easily identifying whether the container has been opened for a first time.