Reservoir Cap With Frangible Bottom And Guided Punch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reservoir caps for extemporaneous preparations often result in the punch member accidentally piercing the tray, causing the bottom to fall into the container, posing a hazard upon use, and lack adequate safety and easy-open features.
Innovation Solution
A reservoir cap design featuring an inner and outer member with a compartment and outer seal, including a line of weakness for easy opening, a skirt for secure attachment, and guide means to prevent accidental separation, ensuring liquid-tightness and tamperproof features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the punch member is designed to pierce the tray bottom for mixing, then the product can be mixed with liquid, but the punch may accidentally completely pierce the tray causing the bottom to fall into the container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing a controlled piercing mechanism where the punch member is guided to pierce only a predetermined portion of the tray bottom. The tray bottom is designed with a frangible section that separates controllably, preventing accidental complete piercing while ensuring reliable product mixing capability.
2Ease of operation
If the reservoir cap is removed from the container for access to preparation, then mixing can occur, but the tray bottom may fall out and be ingested
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prevents the harmful effect of tray bottom ingestion by beforehand designing a controlled separation mechanism. The frangible bottom is engineered to separate in a controlled manner during the piercing process, ensuring that the tray bottom cannot accidentally fall into the container and be ingested, while still allowing access to the preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary controlled separation mechanism between the punch member and the tray bottom. The frangible section acts as an intermediary that absorbs the piercing force and separates in a controlled manner, preventing direct transmission of force that could cause complete bottom separation and ingestion hazard.
3Ease of operation
If manual rupture means are designed for easy opening by adults, then easy-open feature is achieved, but safety features for preventing accidental separation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the mechanical properties of different parts of the tray bottom. The frangible bottom section is designed with localized reduced strength or predetermined weakness, allowing it to separate controllably under specific conditions while maintaining sufficient strength elsewhere to prevent accidental separation. This creates distinct zones with different mechanical qualities for different functions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A reservoir cap for extemporaneous preparations, having easy- open and improved safety features. The reservoir cap (1) comprises a compartment (5) having a bottom (52) and a sidewall (51). A weakened line (55) joins the sidewall to the bottom. A punch (2), comprising an edge (24), is capable of rupturing the weakened line (55). A removable seal (6) comprises means to prevent the punch (2) from moving, relative to the compartment (5), in a direction opposite to the direction it follows to rupture the weakened line.