Child Resistant Container with Piercing Mechanism and Resilient Catch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Child-resistant containers pose difficulties for the elderly or disabled to open due to their design requiring multiple steps, and there is a need for tamper evidence to ensure the container's internal state has not been accessed before purchase.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a dispensing cartridge and outer shell with a cooperating catch arrangement that transitions from a locked to an unlocked state through resilient compression, allowing sliding motion between the components, and a stop arrangement to prevent full removal, along with a blocking member that transitions from a blocked to an unblocked state using a piercing mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a threaded lid requiring two-step process (axial pressing then rotational twisting) is used, then child resistance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates for elderly or disabled persons
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into an outer shell and an inner cartridge that can be separated. The inner cartridge contains the contents and can be independently removed from the outer shell, simplifying the opening process while maintaining child resistance through the catch arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the user to manipulate a threaded lid with multiple steps, the design inverts the approach by using a snap-fit catch arrangement that allows the inner cartridge to be easily pulled out axially after the outer shell is opened, reversing the complex twisting motion into a simple pulling action.
2Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is used to prevent accidental opening, then child resistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catch arrangement merges the locking and opening functions into a single integrated mechanism. The resilient catches engage with lugs to lock the cartridge in place, and the same catches disengage when axial force is applied, eliminating the need for separate locking and opening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient catch arrangement is self-actuating. When axial force is applied to the outer shell, the resilient catches automatically disengage from the lugs and allow the cartridge to be removed, without requiring additional manual manipulation or complex control mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the outer shell is made resilient to enable catch disengagement, then ease of operation is improved, but structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The outer shell has different structural properties in different locations. The sidewalls are made resilient in specific regions where the catches need to flex, while other portions of the shell maintain higher structural strength to protect the contents and provide durability during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer shell transitions from a rigid state during normal handling to a resilient state during opening. The resilient sidewalls allow temporary deformation when force is applied to disengage the catches, then return to their original shape, providing dynamic structural adaptation.
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 design provides child-resistant access while being easier for the elderly or disabled to open by requiring fewer steps and includes tamper evidence through the blocking member's transition, ensuring secure storage and easy access.
Implementation Method 1
The outer shell is resiliently compressible along a compression axis in such a manner that at least one side portion of the outer shell resiliently flexes along an expansion axis to transition the cooperating catch arrangement from the locked state to the unlocked state
Data Source
AI summary
A container and method of opening a container are provided. The container includes a dispensing cartridge defining a storage cavity with an access opening. A blocking member is transitionable from a blocked state to an unblocked state relative to the access opening. The blocking member covers a greater portion of the access opening in the blocked state than in the unblocked state. The outer shell includes a piercing mechanism configured to transition the blocking member from the blocked state to the unblocked state. The method includes using the piercing mechanism to transition the blocking member from the blocked state to the unblocked state.