Press-Rotate E-Cigarette Cap with Child-Resistant Buckle Lock

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic cigarettes pose a risk as children can easily open the upper-cover, exposing the oil and potentially leading to ingestion, which is harmful.

Innovation Solution

A press-rotate-type electronic cigarette design featuring an upper-cover assembly with an inner and outer ring, a buckle and buckling slot system, and an elastic assembly, where the upper-cover outer ring separates from the inner ring under elastic action, requiring a specific force to rotate and separate, thus preventing accidental opening by children.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the upper-cover is designed to be easily opened by rotation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety against children accidentally opening is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of opening upper-coverVSAvoidsafety against children opening
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The upper-cover assembly transitions from a static connection to a dynamic one requiring specific actions. The elastic assembly creates a dynamic locking mechanism where the buckle must be pressed to disengage from the buckling slot, transforming the simple rotation operation into a press-rotate sequence that is both user-friendly and child-resistant

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The opening mechanism changes the operational parameters from simple rotation to a two-step process involving force application (pressing) followed by rotation. The elastic assembly stores and releases mechanical energy, creating a parameter change in the force required during the opening operation that distinguishes intentional use from accidental child access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the upper-cover assembly uses a simple rotation mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the difficulty of preventing accidental opening by children is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplexity of opening mechanismVSAvoidrisk of oil exposure to children
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The buckle is nested within the buckling slot structure, with the elastic assembly integrated between the inner and outer rings. This nested configuration allows the child-resistant feature to be incorporated within the existing upper-cover assembly without adding separate complex mechanisms, maintaining relative simplicity while enhancing safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic assembly acts as an intermediary element between the buckle and buckling slot, providing the necessary mechanical resistance to prevent accidental opening by children. This intermediary component mediates the interaction between the user's pressing action and the rotational opening motion, creating a controlled opening sequence

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Effectively prevents children from opening the electronic cigarette, thereby minimizing the risk of oil exposure and ingestion, ensuring safer storage and use.

Implementation Method 1

An elastic assembly is set between the upper-cover inner ring and the upper-cover outer ring. The upper-cover outer ring is apart from the upper-cover inner ring under the elastic action of the elastic assembly so that the buckle detaches from the buckling slot.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic action: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3351123B1Press-rotate-type electronic cigarette
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 SHENZHEN IVPS TECH CO LTD
  • EP3351123B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3351123B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure provides a press-rotate-type electronic cigarette comprising an upper-cover assembly )100), an oil tank (200) and a lower-cover assembly (300). The upper-cover assembly comprises an inner ring (110) and an outer ring (120), the inner ring accommodated in a space defined in the outer ring. Either one of the inner ring and the outer ring is set with a buckle (111) and the other one is set with a buckling slot (121) suitable for the buckle. An elastic assembly (130) is set between the inner ring and the outer ring, and the outer ring is apart from the inner ring under the elastic action of the elastic assembly so that the buckle detaches from the buckling slot. By setting the elastic assembly between the inner ring and the outer ring, the inner ring cannot be rotated and separated directly. Only when the buckle matches with the buckling slot, the upper-cover assembly could be rotated and separated.