Tamper Evident Plastic Closure for Vials with Frangible Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vial closure systems for medical or pharmaceutical applications face challenges in providing a sterile and tamper-evident solution that minimizes particle contamination, particularly in controlled-atmosphere environments, and allows easy access to the contents without re-sealing.
Innovation Solution
A tamper evident plastic closure system featuring a tubular locking body with a disc-shaped cap and annular frangible portion, where the cap is irreversibly broken to provide access, leaving a visible indicator that prevents re-sealing, ensuring the closure remains open and secure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aluminum capsules are used to cover the rubber plug, then the plug is protected, but particle contamination increases and sterile sealing is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable plastic cap that is discarded after single use, eliminating the need for complex reusable aluminum capsules. The cap provides sterile sealing during storage and is removed before use, preventing particle contamination while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from metal (aluminum) to plastic material, changing the physical and chemical parameters of the sealing component. This material substitution eliminates particle shedding associated with aluminum while maintaining sealing effectiveness through molded features.
2Ease of operation
If a cap structure with a removable cover is provided, then access to the plug is enabled, but the risk of tampering and re-sealing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap incorporates pre-designed frangible bridges that are intended to break during normal removal. This preliminary structuring ensures that the act of opening inherently creates visible damage, providing built-in tamper evidence without requiring additional mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual indicators such as colored frangible bridges or contrasting color regions that change from intact to broken states. This color/visual change provides immediate, unambiguous evidence of tampering or improper re-sealing attempts.
3Strength
If locking tabs are used to secure the cap, then the closure is strengthened, but the mounting process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tabs are integrated directly into the cap as a single molded piece rather than separate components. This merging of the cap body and locking features simplifies manufacturing to a single molding operation while maintaining strong locking capability through the tab geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A tubular locking body of a tamper evident plastic closure for necked vials for holding a plug in a mouth of a vial includes a retaining member for retaining the plug, a central opening being formed in the retaining member for providing access to the inside of the vial via the plug. The cap includes a disc-shaped cover and a coupling portion, for coupling the cap with the tubular locking body by positive-fit engagement. The coupling portion includes at least one frangible portion each configured such that at least one indicator member remains as a tamper evidence at a rim of the central opening of the tubular locking body after removal of the cap from the distal end of the tubular locking body by irreversibly breaking the annular frangible portion for providing access to the inside of the vial via the plug.