Bend-Open Package Sealant Protrusion Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bend-open packages face issues with the protective tape peeling or curling during transportation, leading to exposure of the half-cut lid and potential leakage of contents, as they are prone to touching or rubbing against adjacent packages, causing the sealant to unseal prematurely.

Innovation Solution

A bend-open package design featuring a sealant press-bonded to a flat member with a protrusion along its edge, where the sealant ruptures only when the package is bent to a predetermined angle, and the protrusion prevents direct contact with adjacent packages, ensuring the sealant remains sealed until the package is opened.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the protective tape is adhered to the lid surface to cover the half-cut, then the half-cut is protected, but the tape peels or curls during transportation causing the half-cut to be exposed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidprotective tape stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the protective tape component entirely and replaces it with a protrusion structure that is an integral part of the lid body. This extraction eliminates the adhesion problem while maintaining the protective function through geometric design rather than adhesive bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion acts as an intermediary element between the lid body and the sealant. It provides mechanical support and positioning for the sealant without requiring adhesive tapes, thereby preventing both tape peeling and sealant displacement during transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the sealant is press-bonded to cover the opening, then the opening is sealed, but the sealant edge is exposed and prone to peeling when packages touch during transportation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealant sealing reliabilityVSAvoidmechanical damage from package contact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion is designed to extend beyond the sealant edge to provide preemptive protection. When packages come into contact during transportation, the protrusion absorbs the mechanical impact before it can reach the sealant edge, preventing peeling and displacement of the sealant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion structure creates a physical barrier that counteracts the harmful effect of package contact before it can affect the sealant. By positioning the protrusion to extend beyond the sealant perimeter, the design preemptively neutralizes the risk of mechanical damage during handling and transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If the sealant periphery is embedded in the flat member surface, then the sealant is secured, but the edge becomes uneven and may cause catching during handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealant bonding reliabilityVSAvoidhandling smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The design applies different functional qualities to different regions: the protrusion extends beyond the sealant at the outermost region to provide protection and create a smooth transition surface for handling, while the sealant remains embedded in the flat member surface to ensure secure bonding. This local differentiation resolves both the bonding reliability and handling smoothness requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively prevents premature unsealing of the package until it is intentionally opened, maintaining content integrity during transportation and use by embedding the sealant's periphery and using a protrusion to deflect contact, thus preventing leakage and providing a smooth opening experience.

Implementation Method 1

a sealant press-bonded to a surface of the flat member to cover an opening in the bend portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a protrusion located on the surface of the flat member along an edge included in the periphery, where the protrusion protrudes outwardly from the surface of the flat member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Force

Implementation Method 3

the sealant ruptures and opens in accordance with bending of the bend portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFracture Mechanics: Fracture Mechanics

Data Source

PatentEP3348492B1Fold-open package and method for manufacturing such fold-open packages
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 FUTURE LABO CO LTD
  • EP3348492B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP3348492B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3348492B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A bend-open package includes a sealant without unsealing an opening until the package is bent to a predetermined bend angle or less to prevent leakage of the content in a package body. A method for manufacturing the bend-open package includes preparing a sheet member (20) for a bend-open package (10A), including in sequence, (a) forming cuts (23) in the surface of a sheet base (200), and (b) press-bonding sealants (40) press-cut from a sealant base (400) to the surface of the sheet base (200) to cover the cuts (23). The steps include embedding a periphery (40b) of the sealant (40) in the surface of the sheet member (20) by a predetermined depth (D1), and forming a protrusion (24) having a height smaller than a thickness (E1) of the sealant (40) protruding outwardly from the surface of the sheet member (20) along the entire periphery (40b) of the sealant (40).