Tamper-Evident Container With Perforated Hinge And Deformable Bubbles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food containers made of clear plastic with a clamshell configuration do not provide a clear visual indication when the lid has been opened or tampered with, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish between unopened and opened containers.

Innovation Solution

A tamper-evident container design featuring a perforated or weakened connection between the base and lid, with half bubbles or raised portions positioned over the perforation cut or score cut, which deforms to provide a visual indication when the connection is broken, allowing the lid to be separated from the base and indicating if the container has been opened or tampered with.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lid is made clear and attached to the base, then the container is visually appealing and functional, but it cannot provide visual indication of tampering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetamper indicationVSAvoidcontainer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses bubbles or raised portions that change their visual appearance (deform) when the perforated connection is broken, providing a color/shape change indicator that the container has been opened or tampered with

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the connection between lid and base into a perforated section with bubbles/raised portions that can be broken independently, allowing the lid to be separated while leaving visual evidence of the break

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If the lid is opened and placed back on the base, then the container can be reused, but it becomes indistinguishable from an unopened container

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening status informationVSAvoidlid removal and replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bubbles or raised portions provide permanent visual evidence of opening status through deformation, ensuring that even after the lid is replaced, consumers can easily distinguish opened from unopened containers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The perforated connection with bubbles/raised portions is pre-positioned to break upon opening, automatically recording the opening event before the lid is removed or replaced

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a perforated connection is added to provide tamper indication, then visual indication of opening is achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetamper evidenceVSAvoidcontainer production

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the physical parameters of the container flange by adding perforations, bubbles, or raised portions during the molding process, which can be integrated into existing manufacturing workflows with minimal additional complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11286091B2Tamper evident container

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 BORSE ROBERT J

AI summary

A container including a base having a first flange extending from a side of the base; a lid having a second flange extending from a side of the lid, wherein the first flange and second flange are coupled together at a living hinge, a first perforation cut positioned on the first flange or the second flange, a plurality of bubbles or raised portions positioned on the flange which does not have the first perforation cut, wherein the bubbles or raised portions are positioned over the first perforation cut when the lid is closed on the base, wherein when the bubbles or raised portions are pressed down onto the first perforation cut, the first perforation cut is broken to separate the lid from the base, and wherein the bubbles or raised portions are deformed when they are depressed to provide a visual indication that the container has been opened.