Carton Board Package With Child-Resistant Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing carton board packages lack a child-resistant locking mechanism that is both difficult for children to open and simple in construction, while also being re-closable multiple times.

Innovation Solution

A carton board package design featuring a locking mechanism with a foldable outer casing and a hinged inner casing flap, utilizing creasing and cutting to create contacting points for a child-resistant opening mechanism that allows multiple re-closures, where the inner casing is connected to the outer casing via these points until first opening, and the flaps are arranged to ensure secure closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a child-resistant locking mechanism is added to a carton board package, then the security against children is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechild resistanceVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The package is divided into an outer casing and an inner casing that can be separated. The locking mechanism is segmented into a locking part on the outer casing and a flap on the inner casing. This segmentation allows the child-resistant function to be achieved through a simple two-part structure rather than a complex integrated lock, resolving the contradiction between security and simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner casing is nested within the outer casing in a slideable manner. The flap of the inner casing interacts with the locking part of the outer casing to provide the child-resistant function. This nesting arrangement allows the locking mechanism to be formed by the interaction of simple geometric shapes rather than complex mechanical components, maintaining construction simplicity while achieving child resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If a locking mechanism is designed to be re-closable multiple times, then the usability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvere-closabilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is designed with dynamic elements including a slideable inner casing and a foldable flap with creases. The flap can be folded along crease lines to lock and unlock the package, and the inner casing can slide in and out. These dynamic, simple movements enable multiple re-closures without requiring complex mechanical systems, resolving the contradiction between usability and simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the flap is made shorter to allow locking part space, then the child resistance is improved, but the structural integrity may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking securityVSAvoidflap strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The flap is designed with specific geometric parameters including creases at defined positions and a length that is optimized to provide both locking security and structural strength. The creases create rigid folded sections that maintain strength while the overall length is kept shorter than the full face side length to allow space for the locking part. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between locking security and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3042857B1A package
Publication Date: 2017.11.01 A & R CARTON OY
  • EP3042857B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3042857B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A package, which comprises an outer casing (2) and an inner casing (3) accommodated slidably within the outer casing. The package is formed of a package blank (1) which comprises parallel first and second side edges (4, 5), defining a length direction of the blank, and parallel first and second face sides (6, 7) perpendicular to the side edges, defining a width direction of the blank. The blank (1) further comprises a flap (8), which has a first end (9) and a second end (10) in the width direction of the blank, a fold area (11), which is foldable between an end of the flap (8) and the side edge of the blank, and a first and a second opening flap (12, 13), said flaps are arranged in a same line with the first and the second end of the flap (8) in the length direction of the blank.