Nested Carton Locking Structure for Child-Resistant Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cartons lack effective locking mechanisms to prevent children from accessing hazardous products, such as cleaning agents and medicines, which can be dangerous if ingested or misused.
Innovation Solution
A carton design featuring inner and outer locking structures that cooperate to maintain a closed configuration and allow controlled access, using foldable panels and stop structures to secure the inner part within the outer part, with moveable locking mechanisms for opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to the carton, then safety against child access is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner part is nested within the outer part, with the inner locking structure and inner stop structure integrated into the inner part, and the outer locking structure and outer stop structure integrated into the outer part. This nesting arrangement allows the locking mechanisms to be compact and space-efficient while maintaining safety functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct components: inner locking structure, outer locking structure, inner stop structure, and outer stop structure. Each component performs a specific function, allowing the system to achieve reliable locking while keeping individual elements simple and manufacturable.
2Stability of the object's composition
If locking structures are added to secure the inner part, then stability of closed configuration is improved, but ease of operation for opening deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking structures are designed to be dynamic rather than static. The inner locking structure and outer locking structure can move relative to each other, allowing the system to transition smoothly between locked and unlocked states. This dynamic design maintains stability when locked while enabling easy opening when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The moveable locking structures act as intermediaries between the inner part and outer part. These intermediaries can engage to provide stable locking when closed, and can be deliberately disengaged to allow easy opening, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of stability and ease of operation.
3Reliability
If stop structures are added to limit movement, then reliability of position control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stop structures are merged with the locking structures, forming an integrated assembly where the inner stop structure and outer stop structure work together with the locking structures. This merging reduces the number of separate components while maintaining reliable position control functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A carton for holding one or more products. The carton can comprise an inner part comprising an inner locking structure and an inner stop structure and an outer part comprising an outer locking structure and an outer stop structure. The carton also can comprise a dispenser extending in the inner part. The inner locking structure and the outer locking structure can cooperate to limit movement between the inner part and the outer part when the inner part is in a first position. At least the inner locking structure can be moveable with respect to the outer locking structure for allowing the inner part to move relative to the outer part from the first position to a second position. The inner stop structure and the outer stop structure can cooperate to limit movement of the inner part when the inner part is in the second position.