Swallow-Preventing Sealing Cap with Nested Visual Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing small-volume container sealing caps are easily swallowable by young children or infants, leading to choking hazards, and the secure rings used to prevent tampering are difficult to distinguish from distorted ones, making it hard to determine if the cap is open.
Innovation Solution
A safe sealing cap design featuring a secure component with a curved part, swinging support, and retaining plate, along with protection components and a curved reference component, which provide visual cues for distortion and prevent swallowing, while also allowing for easy opening and closing, and incorporating through holes for ventilation and skidproof grooves for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the sealing cap is made small for small-volume containers, then the container is more compact and suitable for small-volume storage, but the sealing cap becomes easily swallowable by young children or infants, creating a choking hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the curved reference component inside the protection component, forming a nested structure where the smaller reference component is contained within the larger protection component. This maintains the compact size of the sealing cap while adding safety features that prevent swallowing, as the nested structure creates a larger overall diameter that exceeds the safe swallowing threshold for children.
2Reliability
If the curved component of the secure ring is used to indicate opening status, then the security function is achieved, but the appearance difference between distorted and unchanged states is limited, making it hard to tell whether the cap is open
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the color changes principle by utilizing the visual contrast between the curved reference component and the protection component. When the curved component distorts, it creates a明显 visible appearance difference that is easily detectable by the human eye, enhancing the visual indication of opening status while maintaining the security function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a two-dimensional flat secure ring design to a three-dimensional structure with the curved reference component nested within the protection component. This adds vertical and radial dimensions, creating more pronounced visual cues when distortion occurs, making it easier to detect the opening status from multiple angles.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If protection components are added to prevent swallowing, then the safety against choking is improved, but the material usage and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the protection function into two distinct components: the protection component that prevents swallowing and the curved reference component that provides visual indication. This segmented approach allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, using minimal material while achieving both safety and detection goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing the protection component to serve multiple purposes: it prevents swallowing by increasing the overall diameter, provides structural support for the secure ring, and serves as a visual reference when nested with the curved component. This multi-functional design reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby minimizing material usage.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention directs a safe sealing cap for container, having a sealing cap body and at least a secure component, the secure component includes a curved part, a swinging support and a retaining plate, the swinging support is fixed on the outer wall of the sealing cap body, the back end of the curved part is fixed on the bottom side of the front end of the swinging support, the back end of the retaining plate is fixed on the inner wall of the back end of the curved part, and the front end of the retaining plate is extended towards the sealing cap body; the safe sealing cap further comprises at least two protection components, the protection components are connected to the sealing cap body respectively, and the protection components are successively arranged on the sealing cap body in the circumferential direction thereof.