Breachable Bubble Opening Mechanism for Sealed Polymer Film Packages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging made from polymer films is difficult to open due to their strength, which is necessary for protection during packaging and transportation, and current processes do not facilitate easy opening features, especially for packages with multiple compartments.
Innovation Solution
The package includes breachable bubbles in tab areas formed by sealing polymer films with an adhesive and pressure, allowing the films to separate when pressure is applied, enabling easy opening from multiple locations along the package periphery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the strength of the film or seals is increased to prevent rupture during packaging and transportation, then the protection capability is improved, but the difficulty in opening the package increases
Solution Approach 1:
The package incorporates discrete breachable bubbles as separate opening assistance elements within the sealed structure. These bubbles are positioned at specific locations along the seal and can be individually breached to initiate film separation, allowing the strong sealed package to be opened without compromising the overall seal integrity or requiring brute force.
Solution Approach 2:
The breachable bubbles act as intermediary elements between the user and the strong sealed package. By breaching the bubble, the user triggers a mechanical response that initiates film separation through the release of trapped fluid, mediating the opening process without requiring direct force application to the strong seal itself.
2Reliability
If traditional shrink wrap or form-fill-seal processes are used to create tightly wrapped packages, then the void space elimination and product protection are improved, but the ease of opening is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The breachable bubbles are pre-formed and positioned within the sealed package structure during the manufacturing process. This preliminary inclusion of opening assistance features allows the package to maintain its tight sealed appearance while having built-in mechanisms ready to facilitate easy opening when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The breachable bubbles serve as intermediary opening aids embedded within the traditional shrink wrap or form-fill-seal structure. When breached, they release trapped fluid to create localized pressure that separates the film layers, providing an easy opening mechanism without altering the fundamental tight-wrapped protective structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple compartments are included in the package to hold different products, then the product variety and organization are improved, but the complexity of opening the package increases
Solution Approach 1:
The package is divided into multiple compartments separated by internal seals, with breachable bubbles positioned at strategic locations to enable selective opening. Users can breach specific bubbles to access individual compartments without needing to open the entire package, simplifying the opening process for multi-product packages.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the package seal are equipped with breachable bubbles at specific locations corresponding to different compartments. This localized placement allows users to apply opening action only where needed, rather than requiring forceful opening of the entire sealed structure.
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
This solution allows for easy and controlled opening of packages, including those with multiple compartments, by using trapped fluid within the bubbles to separate the film layers, making the contents accessible without requiring brute force or scissors.
Implementation Method 1
Sufficient fluid may be trapped within each breachable bubble such that each bubble breaches upon application of pressure by a user, separating a sealed portion of the first film from the second film
Implementation Method 2
The seal may be formed by heating the two films and applying pressure
Implementation Method 3
or by using an adhesive on one or both of the films and applying pressure with or without the addition of heat
Data Source
AI summary
A package and a method for producing the packages are provided. The packages may comprise an enclosure configured to receive at least one product, the enclosure being sealed from the surrounding environment by two tab areas, one tab area formed at one side of the enclosure and the other tab area formed at the opposite side of the enclosure. The two tab areas are formed by selectively sealing two opposing films, each of the two tab areas comprising at least one breachable bubble configured to be breached upon application of pressure by a user, separating a sealed portion of the two films that form the surrounding tab area, allowing access to the enclosure from either or both sides of the enclosure.