Nestable Paint Can With Double Tamper-Evident Locking System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current paint containers lack efficient nesting and stacking designs, leading to increased storage and transportation costs, and often lack adequate tamper-evident features, making it difficult to determine if the container has been opened or the contents altered. Additionally, they are typically not recyclable, contributing to waste and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A nestable plastic paint container with a double tamper-evident locking system for both the lid and cap, featuring internal and external threads, ratchet locks, and break-off fingers. This design allows for easy recycling of the tamper-evident components and facilitates efficient nesting and stacking, reducing shipping and storage costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cylindrical sidewalls are used in paint containers, then the container structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the containers are difficult to nest or stack efficiently, resulting in increased storage and transportation costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by designing the paint container with a tapered body that allows smaller containers to be placed inside larger ones. The container features a narrow opening at the bottom and wider opening at the top, enabling efficient nesting and stacking that reduces storage and transportation space requirements while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
2Ease of manufacture
If friction-fit lids or snap-on lids are used, then the container closure is simple and easy to manufacture, but adequate tamper-evident features are lacking, making it difficult to determine if the container has been opened or contents altered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the closure system into multiple functional components: a lid with internal threading, a cap with external threading, and integrated tamper-evident features. The lid includes a first tamper-evident locking ring with male locks that engage with corresponding female locks in the cap, while the cap includes a second tamper-evident locking ring with male locks that engage with female locks in the lid. This segmented design provides reliable tamper-evident functionality while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized threading and locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary locking mechanism where the tamper-evident locking rings with male and female locks serve as intermediaries between the lid and cap. These locking rings engage with each other through ratchet locks, providing a secure connection that indicates when the container has been properly sealed and opened, while remaining simple to manufacture
3Ease of manufacture
If containers are designed for single use, then manufacturing and disposal is simplified, but waste and environmental concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a design that facilitates recovery and reuse of container components. The tamper-evident locking rings are designed to be removable and recyclable, with the first and second locking rings that can be separated from the lid and cap respectively. This enables the container to be reused multiple times while providing tamper-evident functionality, reducing waste and environmental impact compared to single-use containers
Data Source
AI summary
A tamper-resistant, refillable paint container featuring a double tamper-evident A locking system. The container includes an inverted frustum conical liquid receptacle with external threading and male locks. A tamper-resistant lid with internal threading, a first tamper-evident locking ring with internal female ratchet locks, and break-off fingers engages the receptacle. A hollow neck extends from the lid, with external threading and male locks. A cap with internal threading, a second tamper-evident locking ring with internal female locks, and break-off fingers engages the hollow neck. The cap is installed onto the lid prior to filling, and the lid with the locked cap is secured onto the receptacle after filling. Removal of the cap or lid causes the break-off fingers to detach, providing tamper evidence. The container enhances user convenience, reduces spills, and provides cost savings through efficient nesting during shipping and storage.