Tamper-Evident Plastic Container With Hinged Visual Tear Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tamper-evident features in plastic containers often result in waste and do not provide a clear indication of opening without close inspection, failing to address consumer concerns about product integrity.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-evident plastic container design featuring a non-linear path of weakness spaced from the hinge, which ruptures to create a tamper indicator region that remains joined to the hinge after opening, providing a clear visual indication of tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tamper-evident features are used, then tamper indication is provided, but material removal occurs causing waste
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into functional segments: a hinge portion for articulation, a non-linear path of weakness for controlled rupture, and a tamper indicator region for visual indication. This segmentation allows the tamper indicator to remain attached to the hinge while the path of weakness ruptures, providing tamper evidence without requiring complete removal of lid material.
Solution Approach 2:
The tamper indicator region acts as an intermediary element between the hinge and the path of weakness. It remains joined to the hinge after the path of weakness ruptures, serving as a visual mediator that indicates tampering has occurred without requiring removal of the entire lid or destruction of functional components.
2Reliability
If conventional tamper-evident features are used, then tamper indication is provided, but clear visibility without close inspection is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper indicator region is designed to provide visual feedback through color or appearance changes that are easily detectable without close inspection. The indicator's visual properties change or become apparent when the path of weakness ruptures, allowing consumers to quickly assess tamper status at a glance.
3Ease of operation
If the path of weakness is formed close to the hinge, then opening is facilitated, but tamper indicator region cannot remain joined to hinge
Solution Approach 1:
The path of weakness is designed as a non-linear path spaced from the hinge, creating a three-dimensional configuration where the tamper indicator region can extend from the hinge along the non-linear path. This spatial arrangement in another dimension allows the path of weakness to be positioned optimally for rupture while maintaining the tamper indicator's connection to the hinge.
Data Source
AI summary
Tamper-evident plastic container comprises a base portion having a sidewall and a base flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the sidewall, and a lid portion having a lid tab joined to the base flange by a hinge, wherein the lid portion has an open position and a closed position. The lid portion is configured to lockingly engage the base portion in the closed position. One of the base flange or the lid tab has a non-linear path of weakness formed therein to define a frangible connection, wherein the frangible connection is configured to be ruptured to initially open the lid portion from the closed position. The non-linear path of weakness is spaced from the hinge to define a tamper indicator region between the non-linear path of weakness and the hinge, wherein the tamper indicator region remains joined to the hinge after the frangible connection is ruptured.