Tamper-Evident Closure With Frangible Bridges And Retaining Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tamper-evident closures for beverage containers do not effectively indicate when the cap has been removed, lacking a mechanism to provide visible evidence of tampering.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-evident closure system featuring a spout with a tamper-evidencing band and a retaining ring that breaks visibly when the cap is unscrewed, limiting upward movement and providing a clear indication of tampering, combined with a cap that engages the spout through internal and external threads for secure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional closure system is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot provide visible evidence of tampering
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into distinct functional components: a tamper-evidencing band with frangible bridges for visible tamper indication, a retaining ring for mechanical engagement, and a cap for sealing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively providing tamper evidence without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tamper-evidencing band utilizes visual changes (breakage of frangible bridges) to indicate tampering. When the cap is removed, the frangible bridges break, providing visible evidence of tampering through structural change rather than color change, achieving reliable indication with minimal complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the cap is made easily removable, then ease of operation is improved, but tamper evidence capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible bridges are pre-positioned in a continuous state during manufacturing. When the cap is normally removed and reattached, the bridges remain intact. Only when tampering occurs do the bridges break, providing preliminary preparedness for both normal operation and tamper detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining ring acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cap and the tamper-evidencing band. It allows the cap to be easily removed and reattached while simultaneously controlling the movement of the tamper-evidencing band, ensuring that normal operation does not trigger tamper indication but actual tampering does.
3Reliability
If the tamper-evidencing band is made fragile to break visibly, then tamper evidence is improved, but the band strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper-evidencing band is segmented into multiple frangible bridges connected in series. These bridges are designed to break individually at controlled locations when tampering occurs, providing visible evidence while maintaining overall band integrity during normal use. The segmentation allows localized failure without complete band failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible bridges are designed with specific mechanical parameters (thickness, length, material properties) that allow them to break at controlled stress levels during tampering while maintaining sufficient strength for normal cap attachment and removal. This parameter optimization balances tamper evidence capability with operational durability.
Data Source
AI summary
A tamper-evident closure including a spout and a cap. The spout includes an upwardly extending neck defining a neck opening, an annular cap-engaging retainer extending radially outwardly from the neck, and a fulcrum interconnecting the cap-engaging retainer and the neck. The cap selectively seals the neck opening and includes a top, an annular skirt depending from the top, and a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to a lower end of the annular skirt. The tamper-evidencing band has a radially inwardly extending spout-engaging retainer. The cap-engaging retainer is adapted to engage the spout-engaging retainer when the cap is removed from the neck to limit upward movement of the tamper-evidencing band with respect to the neck. A method of using the tamper-evident closure is also disclosed.