Vaporizing Container with Step-Shaped Lock Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for volatile substances face challenges in preventing tampering by children while ensuring proper vaporization and discharge, as they often lack effective lock mechanisms and can leak due to gaps between the closure and body.
Innovation Solution
A vaporizing/discharging container with temporary and main lock mechanisms that provide resistance against backward rotation, featuring step-shaped lock mechanisms and a higher modulus of elasticity for the closure member, ensuring secure tightening and minimizing leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple screw closure is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability is worsened due to easy removal by children
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is divided into two separate segments: a protrusion on the closure member and a corresponding recess on the container body. These segments engage with each other to prevent removal, maintaining simplicity while improving security. The segmentation allows the closure to remain easy to attach while becoming difficult to remove unauthorized.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism uses asymmetric geometry where the protrusion on the closure member has a specific shape that fits into a corresponding asymmetric recess on the container body. This asymmetric design prevents the closure from being easily removed by children while maintaining straightforward attachment during normal use.
2Reliability
If a lock mechanism is added to prevent tampering, then reliability is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is merged with the basic screw closure structure. The protrusion and recess are integrated into the existing closure and container body components rather than being separate additions. This merging approach provides tamper prevention functionality while minimizing increases in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion-recess structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both a mechanical lock to prevent unauthorized removal and as part of the screw-thread engagement system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate locking components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If the closure is tightly sealed to prevent leakage, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation is worsened due to difficulty in removal
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The protrusion and recess engage to prevent unauthorized removal, but the threaded connection allows controlled rotation and removal by adults who can apply sufficient torque. This dynamic design maintains tight sealing while enabling legitimate removal when needed.
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
The container effectively prevents tampering by children and adults, while ensuring reliable vaporization and discharge of volatile substances without leakage, using a combination of temporary and main lock mechanisms to secure the closure.
Implementation Method 1
A pair of temporary lock mechanisms configured to engage with each other so that resistance occurs against a direction in which the closure member is rotated backward after the closure member is screwed onto the main body
Data Source
AI summary
A vaporizing/discharging container 100 is provided that can properly vaporize and discharge a volatile substance in use, and prevent tampering by children, etc. The vaporizing/discharging container 100 for vaporizing and discharging a volatile substance into the outside, includes a main body 10 configured to contain the volatile substance, and a closure member 20 having a vapor discharging hole 21 for the volatile substance, and configured to be screwed and attached onto the main body 10. A pair of temporary lock mechanisms 30 (31, 32) configured to engage with each other so that resistance occurs against a direction in which the closure member 20 is rotated backward after the closure member 20 is screwed onto the main body 10, are provided between the closure member 20 and the main body 10, and at least one of the temporary lock mechanisms 30 (31, 32) is formed in the shape of steps.