Folding Box Security Tongue with Rotational Tear Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boxes with a plug-in lid and side flap mechanism struggle to clearly indicate if they have been opened for the first time, as the guarantee tongue can catch and tear at a predetermined breaking point, making it difficult to distinguish between a new and used box.
Innovation Solution
The guarantee tongue and retaining opening are designed for a combination of translational and rotational movement, allowing the tongue to be held on the side flap and tear off when the lid is opened, resulting in a distinct post-opening position that indicates initial opening, with features like S-shaped profiles and signal colors for easy recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the guarantee tongue is designed to tear at a predetermined breaking point, then the box provides a security indication mechanism, but the torn tongue can contact the lid again at the breaking point making it impossible to distinguish whether the box has been opened
Solution Approach 1:
The guarantee tongue is designed to move from a simple linear tear into a rotational movement around a pivot point on the side flap, adding a dimensional aspect to the tearing mechanism. This rotation in a different dimensional plane ensures the tongue maintains a distinct position after opening, preventing it from contacting the lid again and preserving the opening status information.
Solution Approach 2:
The side flap is pre-equipped with a pivot point and the guarantee tongue is pre-configured to rotate around this point during opening. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when opening occurs, the tongue automatically follows a predetermined rotational path that guarantees it will not contact the lid again, thus preserving the security indication without requiring additional active control.
2Ease of manufacture
If the guarantee tongue is made from a single piece of lid material with a weakening line, then the construction is simple, but the tearing mechanism may not provide sufficient opening resistance
Solution Approach 1:
An S-shaped profile is incorporated into the guarantee tongue design, creating curved geometry that increases the tearing path length and complexity. This curvature transforms the simple linear tear into a more complex deformation path, thereby increasing the opening resistance while maintaining the single-piece construction simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guarantee tongue incorporates a dynamic rotation mechanism around a pivot point on the side flap, transforming the static tearing process into a dynamic rotational movement. This dynamic aspect allows the tongue to follow a curved path during opening, increasing the mechanical work required and thus the opening resistance, while the rotation ensures the tongue maintains a distinct final position for reliable status indication.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a box (1), in particular a folding box, comprising a lid (2), preferably an insertable lid, for closing an opening (3) and comprising at least one lateral tab (5) which is hinged to a lateral wall (4) of the box (1) and which folds into the opening (3) and lies under the lid (2) in the closed state of the lid (2). At least one guarantee tongue (6) is formed on the lid (2) in order to indicate if the box (1) has been opened for the first time, and the lateral tab (5) is provided with a retaining opening (7) into which the guarantee tongue (6) can be inserted in the closed state of the lid (2). The guarantee tongue (6) and the retaining opening (7) match each other such that the guarantee tongue (6) can be retained on the lateral tab (5) when the lid (2) is opened and can be at least partly irreversibly moved relative to the lid (2) in a translational and/or rotational manner and can preferably be torn off from the lid.