Sliding Container Cap with Bias Means for Child Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional container closures are difficult for children and some adults to open, leading to containers being left open, which can result in accidental access by children or spills, and existing 'child-safe' caps can be opened with excessive force, risking breakage.
Innovation Solution
A closure system with an inner and outer part that slides relative to each other, featuring bias means like compression springs, allowing easy access for syringe use and pouring while resisting unauthorized opening and excessive force, including a non-return valve for spill prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional child-safe caps use complex release mechanisms or high twisting force requirements, then child access is prevented, but ease of operation deteriorates for adults including elderly and arthritic patients
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into an inner part and an outer part that can slide relative to each other. The inner part contains the child-resistant features while the outer part provides ease of operation. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between child resistance and adult accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer part acts as an intermediary between the user and the inner part. It provides a large gripping surface for easy manipulation by adults while transmitting controlled force to the inner part to activate the child-release mechanism only when proper sliding action is performed.
2Ease of operation
If containers are left open during dispensing operations, then ease of operation improves for syringe use and pouring, but harmful factors increase due to accidental access by children or spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The outer part is pre-configured to slide automatically or easily to open positions that align with dispensing operations. This preliminary positioning allows immediate access for syringe insertion or pouring without requiring additional manipulation steps, while the inner part remains in a closed position to prevent accidental access.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap system transitions from a static closed state to a dynamic open state during dispensing. The outer part can slide to different positions (first dispensing position and second dispensing position) to accommodate different dispensing methods, providing adaptability while maintaining child resistance through the inner part's position.
3Ease of operation
If excessive twisting force is applied to conventional caps, then ease of operation improves for determined users, but reliability deteriorates due to breakage or overcoming of child-resistant features
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring twisting force to open the cap, the invention inverts the mechanism to require sliding motion. This inversion changes the direction and type of force applied, making it difficult for children to open while allowing adults to use their gripping strength effectively. The sliding mechanism resists excessive force in the twisting direction, protecting against breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The child-resistant mechanism changes the operational parameter from rotational twisting to linear sliding. This parameter change affects how force is applied and transmitted, making the cap resistant to both child manipulation and excessive adult force that would cause breakage, while still allowing proper opening through the correct sliding action.
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 closure system effectively prevents access by children and adults who may struggle, while allowing convenient dispensing and pouring, and resists breakage from excessive force, minimizing spillage and ensuring secure closure.
Implementation Method 1
bias means, configured to exert a bias between the inner and outer parts
Implementation Method 2
bias means like compression springs
Implementation Method 3
including a non-return valve for spill prevention
Data Source
AI summary
A closure (10) for a container (12) is disclosed wherein the closure has an inner part that is attachable to the container (12) around the opening of the container (12) and an outer part (20) that is receivable on the inner part (18). The inner part (18) defines at least two inner apertures (34; 36), and the outer part (20) defines at least one outer aperture (52). A bias means (60), is configured to exert a bias between the inner (18) and outer (20) parts. The outer part (20) can slide relative to the inner part (18) when received on the inner part (18), said sliding being between a rest position in which the outer aperture (52) is blocked by the inner part (18), a first dispensing position in which the outer aperture (52) is aligned with a first one of the inner apertures (36), and a second dispensing position in which the outer aperture (52) is aligned with the second of the inner apertures (34). The closure (10) is configured such that sliding of the outer part (20) towards its second dispensing position occurs against the bias.