Medicament Closure Assembly With Guided Snap-Lock Ring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medication containers lack suitable closure systems that ensure high reliability, leak-tightness, and suitability for automated processing, particularly for high cycle rates and throughput, while also preventing unintentional release of toxic or expensive drugs and ensuring tamper-evidence.

Innovation Solution

A closure system with a bounce cap and locking ring featuring snap-on ribs guided in a corresponding guiding slot, ensuring reliable alignment and stability through a guide pairing, allowing for pre-assembly and secure attachment, and incorporating a tamper-evident seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a closure system with bounce cap and locking ring is used for medication containers, then reliability and leak-tightness are improved, but device complexity increases making automated processing difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure system reliabilityVSAvoidclosure system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure system is divided into distinct functional segments: the bounce cap with latching hooks for securing, the locking ring with snap-in ribs for fixation, and the guiding grooves for alignment. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the complex system to be manufactured and assembled through automated processes that handle individual components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding grooves act as intermediary elements between the snap-in ribs of the locking ring and the bounce cap. These grooves facilitate automated alignment and positioning during assembly, enabling robotic or automated filling equipment to accurately position components without complex vision systems or manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If high throughput rates are required for automated filling, then productivity increases, but mechanical stability during processing decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilling throughput rateVSAvoidclosure system stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bounce cap is pre-assembled onto the medication container before the locking ring is applied. The latching hooks are already engaged with the container rim, creating a stable base structure. This preliminary action allows the locking ring to be quickly snap-fit onto the pre-positioned bounce cap during automated high-speed filling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The traditional multi-step mechanical assembly process is replaced by a snap-fit mechanism where the snap-in ribs of the locking ring engage with corresponding grooves in the bounce cap. This substitution enables rapid, tool-free assembly that maintains mechanical stability while supporting high throughput rates in automated filling lines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If snap-in ribs are used to fix the locking ring, then reliability improves, but ease of manufacture worsens due to precise alignment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking ring fixationVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding grooves in the bounce cap and snap-in ribs in the locking ring are designed to self-align during assembly. The geometry of these features guides the components into proper alignment automatically as they are pushed together, eliminating the need for complex external alignment tools or procedures during manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The dimensional parameters of the guiding grooves and snap-in ribs are specifically optimized to provide tolerance compensation. The grooves have sufficient width and the ribs have appropriate clearance to accommodate manufacturing variations while ensuring reliable engagement, reducing the stringency of alignment precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12611363B2Closure system for a medicament, and medicament container comprising a closure system

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 WIRTHWEIN MEDICAL GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A closure system (10) for a medication container (1), the interior (4) of which is accessible via a mouth region (6) designed in the manner of a bottle mouth, wherein the closure system (10) comprises, in addition to a bounce cap (28) which can be pushed onto the mouth region (6) and is provided with a sealing element (24), a locking ring (60) which, in a position pushed completely onto the bounce cap (28), can be pushed onto the bounce cap (28), can be fixed to the bounce cap (28) in a latchable manner by means of a number of snap ribs (62), is intended to be particularly suitable for automated filling operations by simple means. For this purpose, according to the invention, the or each snap rib (62) is guided in a corresponding guiding groove (82) during a movement of the inner lateral surface (84) of the retaining ring (60) relative to an outer lateral surface (80) of the bounce cap (28) corresponding to the latter.