Three-Point Child Resistant Lid for Nasal Spray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child-resistant closure systems for dispensing containers, such as nasal spray applicators, often lose their safety features after removal of shrink wrap sleeves, leading to misplaced caps and lack of child-resistant functionality.
Innovation Solution
A child-resistant closure device with a three-point locking mechanism integrated onto the cap, utilizing a base, axial, and terminal portions with side engagement features, which must be disengaged simultaneously to activate the dispenser, providing a secure and tamper-evident shipping lock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If shrink wrap sleeves are used to secure the cap, then the cap remains attached during shipping, but the safety feature is lost after removal and additional packaging materials are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shipping lock function and child-resistant safety feature into a single integrated cap structure. The cap includes both the shipping lock mechanism (with lockable flaps) and child-resistant features (with release buttons and interlocking components) as unified elements, eliminating the need for separate shrink wrap sleeves and reducing packaging complexity while maintaining security during shipping and after removal.
2Ease of manufacture
If a simple cap design is used, then manufacturing is easier, but child-resistant functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into distinct functional segments: a body portion, lockable flaps for shipping security, and child-resistant components with release buttons. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the complex child-resistant features to be integrated into the cap structure without requiring completely separate components, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving child-resistant functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the cap is easily removable, then ease of operation is improved, but child-resistant security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cap incorporates dynamic elements including movable flaps that can be locked or unlocked, and release buttons that trigger disengagement of interlocking components. The transition from locked to unlocked state requires deliberate user action (pressing release buttons), providing child-resistant security, while still allowing easy removal once activated. The dynamic mechanism ensures the cap cannot be accidentally removed by children but can be easily opened by adults who know how to operate the release mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety device for a nasal spray applicator may include a two or three-point safety engagement feature to retain a protective cap or cover over the nasal spray applicator and to prevent or restrict actuation thereof.