Tamper-Evident Plastic Vessel U-Profile Latching Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plastic containers lack effective tamper evidence and security, allowing unauthorized access and making it difficult for consumers to determine if the container has been opened, while additional security measures like shrunk-on films complicate opening and increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A plastic container design featuring a tamper-evident ring with axially running predetermined breaking lines that tears off upon first opening, ensuring the ring cannot be re-latched, combined with a U-profile latching mechanism that facilitates easy opening and secure closure, eliminating the need for additional films and simplifying manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shrunk-on film is used to secure the connection between lid and container, then tamper evidence is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the tamper-evident function directly into the lid structure by forming a tamper-evident ring as an integral part of the lid during injection molding. This merges the security function with the lid itself, eliminating the need for separate shrunk-on films and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining tamper evidence capability
Solution Approach 2:
The tamper-evident ring is designed as a disposable component that tears off upon opening. This disposable element provides effective tamper evidence without requiring complex reusable security mechanisms, reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring reliability
2Reliability
If a shrunk-on film is used to secure the connection between lid and container, then tamper evidence is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper-evident ring incorporates axially running predetermined breaking lines that segment the ring into tearable sections. This segmentation allows the ring to be easily torn off by consumers without requiring tools or excessive force, maintaining ease of operation while providing tamper evidence
Solution Approach 2:
The predetermined breaking lines are pre-formed in the tamper-evident ring during manufacturing, preparing weak points that guide the tearing process. This preliminary action ensures that consumers can easily open the container by simply pulling the lid, as the breaking lines facilitate clean separation without requiring complex opening actions
3Reliability
If the lid is secured with multiple latching means, then secure closure is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the difficult-to-open latching mechanism from the opening process by providing predetermined breaking lines in the outer legs of the U-profile. These breaking lines allow the latching legs to be easily snapped off, separating the secure closure function (multiple latching means) from the opening function (simple tearing at breaking lines), thus maintaining both security and ease of operation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A circumferential first U-profile (2) is provided on the opening edge of a plastic vessel (1, 20) for food comprising a flexible cover (7, 21), the interior side (3) of said U-profile facing the vessel interior comprising a first detent means (12). The edge of the cover has a circumferential second U-profile (8) configured to correspond to the interior side (3), a second detent means (14) being provided on the exterior side (10) of said second U-profile. The closed cover (7, 21) is latched to the vessel (1, 20) by latching said detent means (12, 14). The first U-profile (2) has a third detent means (17), and a tamper-proof safety ring (16) is attached to the first exterior side (10) of the second U-profile (8) and has detent means (18) provided thereon. The detent means (12, 14, 1.7, 18) are configured to correspond to each other such that they simultaneously engage in pairs, causing the tamper-proof safety ring (16) to tear at least in sections along a circumferential predetermined breaking line upon the cover (7, 21) being opened.