Rectangular Child-Resistant Medication Container Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional child-resistant medicate containers are inefficient and costly to ship due to their cylindrical shape, leading to wasted space and increased packaging costs, and they often have issues with label application and component separation.
Innovation Solution
A child-resistant medicate container with a flat, rectangular shape and a locking mechanism, designed to be easily shipped in flat-rate packages, featuring parallel sidewalls and a sliding cover that prevents accidental separation, allowing for efficient packaging and labeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cylindrical medicate containers are used, then child-resistant functionality is achieved, but shipping and packaging costs increase due to wasted space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the container from cylindrical to rectangular prism shape. This parameter change allows the container to fit more efficiently in shipping packages, reducing wasted space and lowering shipping costs, while maintaining all necessary functional requirements including child-resistant features
Solution Approach 2:
The rectangular container design serves multiple functions: it provides child-resistant protection, enables efficient shipping and stacking, allows for label application on flat surfaces, and prevents component separation through integrated design. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the container adaptable to various requirements simultaneously
2Reliability
If conventional cylindrical medicate containers are used, then child-resistant functionality is achieved, but label application becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface geometry from curved cylindrical surfaces to flat rectangular surfaces. This parameter change makes label application significantly easier, as flat surfaces provide stable adhesion areas, while the child-resistant functionality is maintained through the locking mechanism between container components
3Reliability
If conventional cylindrical medicate containers with separable cap and base are used, then child-resistant functionality is achieved, but component separation problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cap and base components into a single integrated unit. This combining eliminates the separation issue entirely, as there are no separate components that can be misplaced. The child-resistant functionality is maintained through the integrated locking mechanism that requires specific manipulation to open
4Loss of energy
If flat rectangular medicate containers are used, then shipping efficiency is improved, but child-resistant functionality must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the flat rectangular container body with an integrated locking mechanism that functions as both the cap and closure system. This merging maintains child-resistant functionality while preserving the space-efficient rectangular geometry for optimal shipping
Solution Approach 2:
The rectangular container design serves multiple functions: it provides child-resistant protection through integrated locking, enables efficient shipping and stacking, allows for label application on flat surfaces, and prevents component separation. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the container adaptable to various requirements simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
A method of shipping at least one child-resistant medicate container via a carrier includes providing or obtaining at least one child-resistant medicate container including a front sidewall, and an opposing rear sidewall, a right sidewall, an opposing left sidewall, and at least one locking mechanism. The method also includes creating or obtaining a flat-rate shipping package from a carrier, inserting the at least one child-resistant medicate container into the package, and closing the package to enclose the at least one child-resistant medicate container within the package so that the package is generally flat and acceptable by the carrier for a flat-rate shipping. The method also includes causing the closed package to be shipped or transported by the carrier at a flat-rate.