Pouring Spout Closure With Visible First-Open Tamper Evidence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pouring elements for cardboard/plastic composite packages lack visible tamper evidence that indicates initial opening, making it difficult to discern if the package has been previously opened, especially with traditional tamper evidence devices that are hard to detect with the naked eye.
Innovation Solution
A tamper evidence device is integrated into the pouring element, arranged at a distance from the hinge axis, which plastically deforms upon initial opening, allowing for visible detection of the opening with the naked eye, such as through stress whitening or lengthening, ensuring easy recognition of the package's initial opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tamper evidence devices are used, then package security is improved, but detectability with the naked eye deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper evidence device utilizes stress whitening, a visual color change phenomenon, where the material appears white or light-colored when deformed. This optical property change provides immediate visual detection of package opening without requiring special tools or close inspection, directly resolving the detectability issue while maintaining security functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the tamper evidence device from undeformed to plastically deformed, creating a permanent dimensional change. The device is designed to elongate or change shape upon initial opening, providing a visible parameter change that indicates tampering while maintaining the security function of preventing reuse
2Device complexity
If the tamper evidence device is arranged close to the hinge axis, then device complexity is reduced, but visual detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper evidence device is positioned radially outward from the hinge axis, utilizing the radial dimension to create visible deformation. By arranging the device at a distance from the rotation axis, the deformation occurs in a dimension that is visually accessible and observable, solving both the simplicity and detectability requirements
3Ease of operation
If the closure cap is made detachable, then ease of operation is improved, but product contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper evidence device serves as an intermediary element between the closure cap and spout body. It allows the closure cap to be removed and reattached while maintaining security by providing visible evidence of removal. The device mediates between the need for ease of operation and contamination prevention by enabling controlled access with detectable tampering
Solution Approach 2:
The tamper evidence device provides visual feedback about the operational state of the package. When the closure cap is removed, the device deforms and displays visible evidence, giving immediate feedback to the user about whether the package has been opened. This feedback mechanism prevents contamination by alerting users to previously opened packages
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 tamper evidence device provides clear visual indication of initial opening, preventing the use of potentially contaminated products and ensuring the package's integrity is easily verified, enhancing user safety and product reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the tamper evidence device gets plastically deformed when the closure cap is moved from the closing position to the pouring position for the first time
Implementation Method 2
stress whitening or lengthening, ensuring easy recognition of the package's initial opening
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
The invention relates a pouring element (1,21) for cardboard/plastic composite packages or pouch packages comprising a spout body (2,22) and a closure cap (3,23) undetachably connected to the spout body (2,22), wherein the spout body (2,22) comprises an attachment portion (4,25) for fastening the spout body (2,22) to the package and a pouring opening (6,26), wherein the closure cap (3,23) is directly or indirectly connected to the spout body (2,22) in an unbreakable fashion by means of a hinge element (8,27), defining a hinge axis, in such a way that the closure cap (3,23) can be moved from a closing position closing the pouring opening (6,26) into a pouring position releasing the pouring opening (6,26) for pouring product from the package and back again. To ensure that it is easily detectable for the consumer with the naked eye in the reclosed position whether the pouring element has been initially opened and that the pouring element is nevertheless easy to manufacture it is provided that the closure cap (3,23) is also directly or indirectly connected to the spout body (2,22) in an unbreakable fashion by means of a tamper evidence device (9,30) which is arranged at a distance from the hinge axis such that the tamper evidence device (9,30) gets plastically deformed when the closure cap (3,23) is moved from the closing position to the pouring position for the first time in such a way that in the closing position of the closure cap (3,23) the deformation can be detected indicating that an initial opening of the pouring element (1,21) has occurred.