Bundled Goods Overwrap With Grasp Handle and Partial Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior art overwraps are difficult to remove before consumption, lack a grasp handle for easy transport, and require complete removal, leaving unconsumed goods unsecured.

Innovation Solution

An overwrap with a grasp handle and a partially intact design after opening, allowing easy separation from packaged goods without damaging them, using a thermoplastic film with an overlapped and unattached zone to form a handle and maintain security for unused items.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the overwrap entirely surrounds the goods for protection and security, then the goods are well protected in transit and on shelf, but the overwrap becomes difficult to remove and requires complete removal leaving unconsumed goods unsecured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection and security of goodsVSAvoidease of removal and security of unconsumed goods
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The overwrap is divided into two functional zones: a sealed attached zone that provides protection and security, and an unattached zone that enables easy opening while leaving the overwrap partially intact to secure unconsumed goods. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the overwrap to both protect completely and open easily.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring complete removal of the overwrap, the invention applies partial action by maintaining the overwrap in an intact state after opening. The unattached zone allows the user to open the package without removing the entire overwrap, thus securing unconsumed goods while enabling easy access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Stability of the object's composition

If the overwrap is designed to secure and protect goods, then the goods remain stable in transit, but the overwrap provides no grasp handle making transport difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of bundled goodsVSAvoidease of transport and handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The overwrap is segmented into an attached zone for stability and an unattached zone forming a grasp handle for ease of handling. This allows the overwrap to simultaneously provide stable containment and ergonomic transport capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The unattached zone acts as an intermediary element between the user and the bundled goods, providing a grasp handle that facilitates easy transport without compromising the stability provided by the sealed attached zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the overwrap is made difficult to remove for security, then unconsumed goods remain secure, but the opening process damages or diminishes the usefulness of the packaged goods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of unconsumed goodsVSAvoidintegrity of goods after opening
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The overwrap is divided into sealed and unsealed zones, allowing the opening action to occur in the unattached zone without affecting the sealed portions. This ensures unconsumed goods remain secure while the opening process does not damage the goods or their packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The opening function is extracted from the sealed attached zone and relocated to the unattached zone. This allows the opening action to occur in a designated area that does not compromise the integrity of the goods or the sealed packaging of unconsumed items.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables easy transportation and opening of packaged goods while securing unused items, ensuring the overwrap remains intact to protect unconsumed goods.

Implementation Method 1

heating and sealing the overlapped portions of the packaging film together to form an attached zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

melt and seal the overlapped portions together

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

shrunk around the bundle of packaged goods

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Data Source

PatentEP3110705B1Easy open bundled packaged goods
Publication Date: 2018.11.28 KIMBERLY CLARK WORLDWIDE INC
  • EP3110705B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3110705B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3110705B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention provides an easy to grasp handle and opening for packaging of individual packaged products that are sold in multi-packs, also referred to herein as bundles. The multi-pack is a plurality of individually packaged products that are over-wrapped together by a wrapper, such as a plastic film. In certain embodiments the packaged products comprise a package and a consumer good, such as facial tissue. The bundle of individually packaged products comprising a plurality of packages, wherein each of the plurality of packages contains at least one product and a film wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the plurality of packages, wherein the film wrapper comprises an overlapped portion having a first film wrapper layer and a second film wrapper layer, the overlapped portion having an attached zone and an unattached zone.