Vape Cartridge Locking Mechanism with Flexible Hooks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vape cartridges lack effective tamper-proof and child-proof mechanisms, risking contamination and quality assurance of vape materials during handling, storage, and transport.
Innovation Solution
A locking mechanism for vape cartridges that requires a force greater than 20 kg to disassemble, featuring a hollow center post with a notch area and a tip lock with flexible hooks and wings that snap back to engage with the notch, providing tamper-evident damage upon attempted disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple sealed cartridge design is used, then ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but tamper-proof capability and quality assurance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The tip lock incorporates flexible hooks that can dynamically flex outward during assembly when the post tip passes through the opening, then snap back to engage with the notch area. This dynamic behavior allows the locking mechanism to adapt during assembly while providing secure locking during use, resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and tamper-proof capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening of the center bore is designed with specific dimensional parameters (third diameter) that are less than the first diameter of the post tip but greater than the second diameter of the notch area. This parameter configuration allows the flexible hooks to flex during assembly while ensuring secure engagement during use, balancing ease of assembly with tamper-proof capability.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism requiring high force to disassemble is implemented, then tamper-proof capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible hooks provide a dynamic locking mechanism that requires significant force to disassemble (greater than 20 kg) but can be easily assembled by pressing the subassembly tip and base together. The flexibility allows the hooks to deform during assembly then snap back to lock, creating easy assembly with secure locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: the flexible hooks for engagement, the notch area for positioning, and the post tip for insertion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, providing secure locking while maintaining ease of assembly through modular interaction.
3Reliability
If the flexible hooks are made highly flexible to ensure engagement, then reliability of locking is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible hooks utilize elastic deformation to provide reliable engagement without complex mechanisms. The hooks flex outward during insertion then snap back to engage with the notch area, providing a simple yet reliable locking action that maintains reliability while minimizing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible hooks are designed to automatically engage with the notch area through their own elastic recovery without requiring external actuation or complex control mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the elastic properties of the hooks to provide both the locking action and the engagement feature, reducing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures the vape cartridge remains sealed by human strength, preventing accidental or intentional opening, and provides visible evidence of tampering, thus ensuring quality assurance and child-proofing.
Implementation Method 1
a hook portion having a plurality of flexible hooks defining an opening of the center bore at the first end and being operative to flex outward away from the center bore when the post tip of the hollow center post passes through the opening of the center bore until the notch area on the hollow post is aligned with the flexible hooks which snap back to their unflexed positions and engage with the notch area of the hollow center post
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a locking mechanism for a vape cartridge. The locking mechanism can provide a sealed vape cartridge that cannot be opened by a force less than, for example, 20 kg. The use of tools is required to provide a force to open the sealed vape cartridge. The locking mechanism can provide evidence of tampering or of opening of the vape cartridge. The locking mechanism can provide quality assurance for vape materials during production, packaging, distribution, storage, and sale, while providing contamination free testing of vape materials at a quality control lab.