Tamper-Resistant Chemical Reagent Package Design

Solution Overview

Problem

Chemical reagent packages face challenges in preventing unwanted release and exposure of hazardous reagents to the ambient environment, compromising safety and purity during transport, storage, and use, especially in industries like semiconductor manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A tamper-resistant containment package design featuring a container and cover mechanically fastened with a dual array of mechanical fasteners, including seal fasteners for leak-tight sealing and tamper-resistant fasteners that prevent unauthorized opening, ensuring the package remains sealed unless tampered with.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional mechanical fasteners are used to seal the container and cover, then the package can be easily opened for access, but the package becomes vulnerable to unauthorized opening and accidental release of hazardous reagents

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetamper resistanceVSAvoidease of opening

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is divided into two distinct sub-arrays: seal mechanical fasteners that provide leak-tight sealing and can be removed with standard tools, and tamper-resistant mechanical fasteners that require specialized tools for removal. This segmentation allows each subsystem to optimize for its specific function while collectively providing both security and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A specialized removal tool acts as an intermediary between the user and the tamper-resistant fasteners. This tool enables authorized personnel to open the package without compromising the tamper-resistant protection, thus maintaining security while allowing legitimate access when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the package uses a simple sealing mechanism, then the manufacturing cost is low and assembly is easy, but the package cannot prevent unauthorized opening or accidental release

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainment securityVSAvoidfastener array complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is divided into two distinct sub-arrays: seal mechanical fasteners that provide leak-tight sealing and can be removed with standard tools, and tamper-resistant mechanical fasteners that require specialized tools for removal. This segmentation allows each subsystem to optimize for its specific function while collectively providing both security and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seal mechanical fasteners serve dual purposes: they provide the primary leak-tight sealing function and can also be used with standard tools for package opening. This multi-functionality reduces the need for completely specialized components while maintaining security through the complementary tamper-resistant fasteners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the package uses tamper-resistant fasteners that require specialized tools, then unauthorized opening is prevented, but the package cannot be easily opened by standard mechanical means

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetamper resistanceVSAvoidease of disassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is divided into two distinct sub-arrays: seal mechanical fasteners that provide leak-tight sealing and can be removed with standard tools, and tamper-resistant mechanical fasteners that require specialized tools for removal. This segmentation allows each subsystem to optimize for its specific function while collectively providing both security and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A specialized removal tool acts as an intermediary between the user and the tamper-resistant fasteners. This tool enables authorized personnel to open the package without compromising the tamper-resistant protection, thus maintaining security while allowing legitimate access when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11136169B2Tamper-resistant chemical reagent package

Publication Date: 2021.10.05 ENTEGRIS INC

AI summary

A tamper-resistant containment package is described, including a container; a cover configured to engage with the container so that the container and cover form an enclosed volume; and at least one tamper-resistant mechanical fastener that is cooperative with the cover and container to render the containment package tamper-resistant when the container and cover are engaged in a sealed state isolating the enclosed volume from an ambient environment surrounding the containment package. Such containment package is usefully employed for storage and transport of chemical reagents that pose a health, safety, and/or environmental risk if released to an exterior environment of the containment package.