Child-Resistant Package Lever Arm Fulcrum Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current child-resistant blister packaging for pharmaceuticals and consumer products often poses difficulties for senior and physically disabled adults while not adequately preventing access by children, as it requires high cognitive skills and strength to open, which can lead to children also being able to access the contents.
Innovation Solution
A package design featuring a container with a breakable joint and a cover sheet that pivots at a fulcrum, allowing the sections to separate and the cover sheet to be removed, requiring a specific force to open, thereby increasing complexity and child-resistance without necessitating high strength or cognitive skills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If high tear resistance material is used in child-resistant packaging, then child access is prevented, but opening difficulty increases for senior and physically disabled adults
Solution Approach 1:
The package is divided into two separate sections: a first section containing the well and a second section containing the opening feature. These sections are connected by a breakable joint that can be snapped by applying force at a specific location, allowing easy separation for adults while remaining intact against child manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
A cover sheet is introduced as an intermediary element that covers the opening feature and is adhered to both sections. The cover sheet must be removed after breaking the joint, adding a protective layer that prevents direct access by children while allowing controlled access for adults who can break the joint
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cognitive skills are required to open packaging, then child resistance is improved, but accessibility for senior and physically disabled adults deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The opening feature is extracted from the main body and placed in a separate second section. This separation allows the opening mechanism to be triggered by a simple snapping motion at the breakable joint rather than requiring complex cognitive steps, making it accessible to adults with cognitive impairments or physical disabilities
3Ease of operation
If packaging structure is simplified for easy opening, then adult accessibility is improved, but child resistance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The breakable joint is designed with dynamic characteristics that respond differently to adult and child manipulation. When sufficient force is applied at the specific location by an adult, the joint snaps and separates the sections. Children's weaker and less targeted manipulation does not trigger the separation, providing adaptive resistance
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 package design effectively balances child-resistance with ease of access for adults, including seniors and those with disabilities, by requiring a specific force to break the joint, making it difficult for children under 5 to open while allowing easy access for adults, as demonstrated in testing where 80% of children aged 3.5-4 years and over 90% of adults aged 65-70 could open the package.
Implementation Method 1
either the first section or the second section is adapted to pivot at a fulcrum between the cover sheet and the joint to assist in breaking the breakable joint
Implementation Method 2
pivot at a fulcrum between the cover sheet and the joint to assist in breaking the breakable joint
Data Source
AI summary
A package including a container and a cover sheet, the container having a first section and a second section connected at a breakable joint, the first section includes a well, and the cover sheet is adhered to at least a portion of the first section and at least a portion of the second section and the cover sheet covers the well. Either the first section or the second section is adapted to pivot to assist in breaking the breakable joint in order to separate the first section and the second section, and allow removal of the cover sheet.