Resilient Deformable Liner for Child-Resistant Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for closure systems that prevent young children from inadvertently opening bottles while still allowing mature adults to easily access the contents.
Innovation Solution
A child-resistant closure system featuring a container, a closure, and a resilient deformable liner that transitions from a locked to an unlocked configuration by deforming when sufficient directional force is applied, allowing the locking mechanisms to disengage and separate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is designed to be resistant to casual or unsophisticated efforts at opening, then child safety is improved, but the ease of operation for mature adults deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the liner from rigid to resilient deformable, allowing it to transition between locked and unlocked configurations through controlled deformation. This enables the closure to require significant force for opening while maintaining child resistance during normal handling
Solution Approach 2:
The closure system transitions from a static locked state to a dynamic unlocking process where the liner deforms elastically. The resilient liner allows the closure to adapt its configuration based on applied force, requiring sustained directional force to deform enough for disengagement while preventing accidental opening
2Reliability
If the resilient deformable liner is made thicker to provide better spacing and sealing, then sealing engagement is improved, but the force required to deform the liner increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liner is designed with varying properties: thicker in regions requiring sealing engagement and spacing function, and thinner or more compliant in regions where deformation is needed for unlocking. This localized differentiation allows adequate sealing while enabling forceful deformation when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The closure system combines the resilient deformable liner with rigid locking structures (lugs and notches). This composite approach allows the liner to provide sealing and spacing while the rigid structures provide the mechanical locking and disengagement mechanism
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 system effectively prevents casual or unsophisticated efforts from opening the closure, ensuring safety for children while allowing mature adults to easily access the contents by applying sufficient force to transition the liner from a locked to an unlocked state.
Implementation Method 1
the resilient deformable liner can adopt a flat configuration to align the container and closure with respect to each other. When transitioning from the locked to an unlocked configuration, sufficient directional force can be applied to the closure system to cause the liner to deform
Implementation Method 2
When the closure is in the locked configuration, the thickness of the resilient deformable liner can act as a spacing element between the container and the closure, orienting the container and closure with respect to each other
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to child-resistant closure systems including a container, closure, and a resilient deformable liner positioned therebetween. The container and closure include mechanisms for engaging each other when the closure system adopts a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the liner adopts a moderately non-flat profile and covers a mouth of the container. The closure can include a deflection rib and a highly curved top panel; when a pushing movement of sufficient force is applied to the closure, the closure system transitions from the locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. At this time, the deflection rib deforms a central portion of the liner, and the highly curved portion of the top panel engages the mouth of the container; this action can cause an outer portion of the liner to contact the highly curved portion and transition to a highly curved profile mimicking the profile of the top panel.