Tamper-Evident Closure With Non-Rotatable Outer Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current caps and closure assemblies with tamper-evident features lack improvements in ensuring the integrity of contents within containers and efficient stacking capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-evident closure assembly featuring a cap with a non-rotatable outer shell and a tamper-evidencing member that indicates removal, allowing for secure stacking of containers by aligning their outer peripheries, with a frangible connection to prevent unintended cap removal and maintain container shape during stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cap with tamper-evident feature is used to close a container, then the integrity of contents can be indicated, but the container cannot be efficiently stacked with other containers
Solution Approach 1:
The closure assembly is nested within an outer shell that has a outer periphery substantially corresponding to the container's maximum outer periphery. This nesting arrangement allows the closure assembly to be integrated into the container's stacking geometry without adding external protrusions, enabling efficient stacking while maintaining the tamper-evident cap and its integrity indication features.
2Ease of operation
If the cap is made removable for access, then the contents can be accessed, but the cap may be removed unintentionally during handling and stacking
Solution Approach 1:
The outer shell is operatively secured to the cap to prevent rotation of the cap relative to the outer shell. This preliminary constraint counteracts the rotational forces that may occur during handling and stacking operations, preventing unintended cap removal while still allowing intentional removal when needed for access to contents.
3Ease of manufacture
If the cap is allowed to rotate during assembly, then the cap can be easily installed, but the cap may rotate unintentionally during stacking causing loss of alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The outer shell is operatively secured to the cap to prevent rotation of the cap relative to the outer shell. This preliminary constraint ensures that the cap maintains its alignment with the container opening and with adjacent containers during stacking operations, preventing loss of alignment while still allowing the cap to be installed in the container opening.
Data Source
AI summary
A tamper-evident closure assembly for a container includes a cap configured to be secured with the container to cover the opening. A tamper-evidencing member is carried by the cap and is configured to provide an indication when the cap is removed from the container. The closure assembly further includes an outer shell having a central aperture through which the cap is received. The outer shell and the cap may be configured to cooperate with each other such that the cap is operatively secured to, and mounted so as to be non-rotatable relative to, the outer shell. A system for storing material and a method of closing a container are also provided.