Smart Packaging Housing Module Retention Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current smart packaging systems for healthcare applications face challenges in being both child-resistant and senior-friendly, while also needing to be cost-effective, recyclable, and sustainable, with a requirement for improved tracking and compliance monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A sleeve-and-drawer style smart packaging system featuring a lockable receptacle with a two-part locking mechanism, a registration mechanism for data collection, and a housing module for an electronic device that can be affixed without adhesives, allowing for accurate tracking and compliance monitoring while ensuring secure access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a lockable receptacle with two-part locking mechanism is used, then child-resistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two separate parts: a first part integrated into the outer sleeve and a second part integrated into the lockable receptacle. This segmentation allows each part to be simple in design while together providing effective child-resistance, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and security.
2Measurement precision
If a detector based on optical, magnetic or mechanical principles is used, then tracking and monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A detector acts as an intermediary between the lockable receptacle and the electronic module. The detector provides a simple interface that can be based on optical, magnetic or mechanical principles, while the electronic module handles the complex data processing and analysis, thus resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and overall system complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If adhesive or other auxiliary affixing mechanisms are avoided, then ease of manufacture and recyclability are improved, but reliability of housing module attachment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces adhesive bonding with a mechanical retention system using retention wings that engage with slots in the outer sleeve. This mechanical system is easier to manufacture and assemble, and maintains reliable attachment without requiring adhesives, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and attachment reliability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the packaging is designed to be recyclable and sustainable, then environmental impact is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging is segmented into separate components (outer sleeve, lockable receptacle, housing module) that can be manufactured from recyclable materials and easily disassembled. The retention wings and slots provide precise mechanical engagement that ensures proper assembly without requiring high-precision manufacturing, thus resolving the contradiction between recyclability and manufacturing precision requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A housing module (601) for use with a smart package (110) has a main body suitable for having an electronic device (605) affixed thereto. The main body includes one or more retention wings (603a, 603b) extending from the main body. The one or more retention wings are sized and configured for co-operation with a slot (88a, 88b) associated with the smart package (110) such that the housing module (601) is retainable substantially within the smart package (110). The one or more retention wings (603a, 603a) are shaped, sized and configured to co-operate with an end-stop of the slot (88a, 88b) for locating the housing module (601) within the smart package (110).