Tamper-Evident Tab Optical Indicator for Elderly Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging containers with tamper-evident closures are difficult for senior citizens over 70 to open due to their design, which lacks sufficient visual and tactile cues for easy identification and manipulation.
Innovation Solution
A plastic food container with a transparent tamper-evident tab and optical indicators, such as color-contrasting labels or structural features, to enhance visibility and usability, including a design with a raised edge and edge tabs around the tamper-evident tab, and an in-mold label that clearly marks the opening mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tamper-evident seal with tab is used to secure the packaging container, then the security and sealing integrity are improved, but the ease of identification and opening by senior citizens deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by providing the optical indicator with a color that contrasts to the color of the packaging container. This allows senior citizens to easily identify the tamper-evident tab through color differentiation, solving the problem of difficulty in locating and opening the seal while maintaining the sealing integrity provided by the tamper-evident mechanism.
2Shape
If the tamper-evident tab is made transparent to maintain aesthetic appearance, then the visual appeal is improved, but the visibility and detectability of the opening mechanism deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by providing the optical indicator with a color that contrasts to the color of the packaging container. This allows senior citizens to easily identify the tamper-evident tab through color differentiation, solving the problem of difficulty in locating and opening the seal while maintaining the sealing integrity provided by the tamper-evident mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If visual indicators are added to mark the opening mechanism, then the ease of operation for seniors is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the optical indicator directly into the tamper-evident seal structure. The indicator is provided as part of the seal assembly, combining the sealing function with the visual indication function in a single integrated component, thereby improving ease of identification without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Plastic packaging container for storing preferably hot-fillable foodstuffs, in particular plastic food containers, comprising a lid (1) and a container (2) forming a lower base (3) with a receiving space bounded by a side wall (4), with a skirt (7) running along an upper area of the side wall (4) and a tamper-evident seal having a tamper-evident tab (9) which, after filling the packaging container, must be released for initial opening by a consumer, wherein the lid (1), designed as a clamping or snap-on lid, can be fixed to the upper edge of the container.wherein the tamper-evident tab (9) is transparent and the container (2) has an optical indicator (14) for identifying the tamper-evident tab (9) between a longitudinal central axis (13) perpendicular to the lower base surface (3) and a surface of the tamper-evident tab (9) directed away from this axis.