Tamper-Evident Food Container Trigger Hinge Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing resealable plastic food containers with tamper-evident mechanisms are either easily tampered with or require complex and material-intensive designs, posing ecological concerns and user operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-evident plastic food container with a novel hinge mechanism that can be opened using a distinct hand/finger action, featuring thumb and finger rests that allow for a simple trigger-like motion to rupture the frangible hinge, enabling easy operation and minimal material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tear-away or break-away mechanisms are used at the sealing side, then tamper evidence is achieved, but the container can be easily tampered with using scissors or cutting implements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional frangible tab mechanism with a hinge-based mechanical system that uses a pivot point and lever arm geometry. The hinge mechanism requires rotational force applied at specific points (thumb rest and finger rest) to overcome a retention feature, substituting the simple frangible break-away system with a more complex mechanical advantage system that resists cutting tools while maintaining tamper evidence.
2Reliability
If hinge structures are designed to require severance near the hinge to unseal, then tamper evidence is improved, but the design becomes complex requiring intricate geometry and forming
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure is segmented into distinct functional components: a lid hinge segment, a base hinge segment, a pivot point, a thumb rest, a finger rest, and a retention feature. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while simplifying the overall manufacturing process, as each segment can be formed independently and then assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism incorporates dynamic elements including a movable lid hinge segment that rotates about the pivot point, and a retention feature that can be engaged or disengaged based on the applied force. The thumb rest and finger rest create a dynamic lever system that transforms user input forces into controlled movement of the lid hinge segment, providing both simplicity and reliability.
3Reliability
If tear strips or tabs are used for hinge rupture, then tamper evidence is achieved, but additional plastic material is needed and disposal becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hinge structure with the container walls by forming the lid hinge segment as an extension of the lid rim and the base hinge segment as an extension of the base rim. This integration eliminates the need for separate tear strips or tabs, reducing material consumption while maintaining the tamper evidence function through the frangible nature of the hinge connection at the pivot point.
Data Source
AI summary
A tamper-evident container comprises a lid and a base. The lid includes a lid rim. The base includes a base rim. A frangible hinge is formed between a lid hinge segment extending outwardly from the lid rim and a base hinge segment extending outwardly from the base rim. The lid hinge segment includes at least one thumb rest that is positioned, sized and shaped to receive the thumb on a user's hand. The thumb rest has a counterpart finger rest located on the base hinge segment that is positioned, sized and shaped to receive a finger on the user's hand while the thumb of the same hand is in contact with the thumb rest. The frangible hinge is configured to rupture when the container is in the initially sealed arrangement by the application of a pushing force to the thumb rest and a contemporaneous pulling force to the finger rest.