Bottle Carrier Fold Structure for Flat Stacking and Easy Cap Fit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottle carriers deform when stacked and are difficult to fit onto and remove from bottle caps, especially during automated packaging and consumer use.
Innovation Solution
A bottle carrier with a central fold and diagonal lines that conform to bottle shoulders, and half-crown shaped tabs for easier insertion and removal, preventing deformation and reducing force required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the central fold is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the carrier can support stacking weight, but it protrudes or deforms when another pack is stacked on top
Solution Approach 1:
The central fold is divided into multiple segments: a first fold line forming a handle, a second fold line forming a shoulder, and diagonal fold lines creating triangular zones. This segmentation allows each segment to perform its specific function - the handle for carrying, the shoulder for supporting bottles, and the triangular zones for adapting to bottle contours while maintaining overall flatness when stacked
Solution Approach 2:
The fold lines are designed with varying degrees of flexibility - the diagonal fold lines allow the central fold to dynamically adapt its shape when bottles are inserted, conforming to the bottle shoulders, while the overall structure remains rigid enough to maintain flatness when another pack is stacked on top
2Reliability
If tabs are provided around the entire perimeter of holes, then bottle caps are securely retained, but the carrier is difficult to fit onto and remove from bottle caps
Solution Approach 1:
Tabs are provided only on a portion of the hole perimeter rather than the entire circumference. This local placement of tabs provides sufficient cap retention while leaving other portions of the hole perimeter open to reduce the force required for insertion and removal operations
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing complete circumferential tabs, only partial tabs are used - sufficient to achieve the retention function but not excessive to the point of making insertion and removal difficult. This partial action achieves the necessary security without the harmful side effect of excessive friction
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 carrier maintains flatness under stacking pressure and requires less force for fitting and removal, enhancing operational efficiency and consumer convenience.
Implementation Method 1
allowing the central fold to better conform to the shoulder area of the bottles, especially when pressure is applied to the carrier once installed on a group of bottles and another pack is stacked on top
Implementation Method 2
the tabs bend in one direction to allow the insertion of the cap and prevent its removal
Data Source
Figure 1~2-B
AI summary
Multipack bottle carrier, intended for transporting groups of two or more bottles (b), held by their caps (t), being formed from a laminar piece (1) made of cardboard or similar material, die-cut with circular holes (2) provided with tabs (3), arranged on both sides of a set of parallel fold lines (4, 5) and two openings (6) which, when folded, define a central vertical fold (7) incorporating a carrying handle, characterised in that the laminar piece (1), in addition to the parallel fold lines (4, 5) one central (4) and two lateral (5) between which the handle openings (6) are interspersed, comprises diagonal fold lines (8) extending from the handle openings (6) towards the respective ends of the laminar piece (1), which, when folded, define respective triangular areas (9) that rest on both sides of the central vertical fold (7), fitting onto the shoulders of the bottles (b), at least those located at the ends of the grouping. The laminar piece (1) comprises four diagonal fold lines (8), two on each side, extending symmetrically from the respective handle openings (6) to the opposite lateral ends (1.1) of the laminar piece (1), passing tangentially through the circular holes (2) located at the outermost positions on both sides of the piece. (1) Comprises moreover three circular holes (2) arranged symmetrically on either side of the parallel fold lines (4, 5) and the diagonal fold lines (8), which collectively define the central vertical fold (7) The circular holes (2) of the laminar piece (1) include tabs (3) only along a portion of their inner contour, located solely on the portion opposite the position of said central vertical fold (7) and its carrying handle.