Pharmaceutical Container Anti-Tampering Flap Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional secondary containers for pharmaceutical products do not effectively indicate whether they have been opened, failing to meet new anti-tampering standards and thus are not suitable for securely containing pharmaceuticals.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring a box-like casing with overlapping faces and tear-off detachable connection means, including incision lines and a flap system that requires manual resolution to access, providing an anti-tampering closure mechanism while maintaining manufacturing simplicity and economy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional secondary containers are used, then manufacturing simplicity and economy are maintained, but the ability to indicate whether the container has been opened is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-tampering indication capabilityVSAvoidclosure system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure system is divided into separate functional elements: a lid with connection means, a body with slots, and a detachable flap system. This segmentation allows the anti-tampering indication function to be implemented through specific components (the flap and its connection means) rather than requiring complete redesign of the entire container, thus improving reliability while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The container is designed with pre-configured connection means including incision lines and flaps that are prepared in advance during manufacturing. When the container is opened, the flap must be manually detached along the incision lines, leaving visible evidence of opening. This preliminary configuration enables automatic anti-tampering indication without requiring complex electronic or mechanical systems during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a secure anti-tampering closure system is implemented, then pharmaceutical product security is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepharmaceutical product securityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-tampering indication system is designed to be self-evident through its physical structure. The detachable flap with incision lines automatically provides visual indication of opening status without requiring additional sensors, electronics, or complex mechanisms. The structure itself serves the indication function, eliminating the need for separate indication systems and reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The connection means utilize thin, flexible materials for the flap and its supporting structures. These thin-film elements can be easily manufactured using conventional paper or plastic processing techniques, integrated into the existing container manufacturing process without requiring specialized equipment or complex assembly operations, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while providing secure closure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP4093677B1Container for a pharmaceutical product
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 EURPACK GIUSTINI SACCHETTI SRL
  • EP4093677B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4093677B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It is provided a container (1) for pharmaceutical product including a casing (2) comprising one or more first faces (20) defining a containment volume, at least one opening (21) capable of allowing access to the containment volume from the external, at least one secondary face (22) overlapped, within the containment volume, to a portion of the first face (20) in such a way as to define an overlapping area (23) and a slot (24), and at least one lid (3) configured to close the opening (21), in at least one closing configuration, and including at least a first portion (30) constrained to the casing (2) and capable of overlapping the opening (21) and a second portion (31) configured to be housed within the slot (24) and to at least partially overlap the overlapping area (23) in the closure configuration, wherein the portions (30, 31) are mutually constrained by connection means (32) which are tear- off resolvable, the first face (20) comprises at least one flap (25) overlapped on part of the overlapping area (23) and protruding skewed with respect to the first face (20) away from the opening (21), and the second portion (31) comprises a hole (33) configured to house interlocked the tab (25) when the lid (3) is in the closed configuration in such a way as to irreversibly lock the second portion (31) in the overlapping area (23) and allow the access to the containment volume exclusively solving the means of connection (32).