Carton Collapsible Tubular Handle With Hinged Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cartons lack an efficient and space-saving retractable handle mechanism that allows for easy transportation and stacking, while ensuring the security of contents and minimizing material usage.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible tubular handle structure with hinged panels and an expansion facilitator, comprising tabs that interrupt fold lines, allowing the handle to extend and retract, and engage with the carton body to secure articles when retracted, facilitating easy stacking and transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a retractable handle structure is added to the carton, then transportation convenience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle structure is divided into multiple hinged panels (first pair and second pair of hinged panels) that can independently fold and collapse. This segmentation allows the handle to be broken down into smaller movable units, enabling retraction while maintaining structural integrity and reducing overall complexity compared to a solid fixed handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle incorporates dynamic hinged connections that allow the structure to transition between extended and retracted states. The fold lines and hinges enable the handle panels to move relative to each other, providing the necessary dynamics for retraction while keeping the mechanism simple and reliable.
2Productivity
If the handle is made retractable, then stacking efficiency is improved, but reliability of content security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The handle structure is designed with fold lines and hinges pre-positioned to ensure that when the handle is in the retracted state, the panels naturally form a secure configuration that maintains content security. The preliminary arrangement of hinged connections ensures that retraction does not compromise the structural integrity or security of the carton contents.
3Loss of substance
If material usage is minimized, then environmental impact is reduced, but strength of the carton deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the handle into multiple hinged panels rather than using a solid continuous structure, the design minimizes material usage while maintaining sufficient strength through the distributed hinged connections. The segmented approach allows material to be placed only where structurally necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle structure utilizes the composite nature of folded paperboard or cardboard material, where multiple folded layers create strength equivalent to or greater than solid material of the same weight. The hinged panels leverage the inherent strength of layered paperboard construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A carton for packaging one or more articles includes an extendible handle. The handle includes at least one handle panel and a collapsible structure. The collapsible structure couples the at least one handle panel to a main body of the carton. The collapsible structure comprises a pair of hinged panels. The hinged panels include an inner panel hingedly connected by a first fold line to an outer panel. The inner panel is hingedly connected to the main body of the carton. The outer panel is hingedly connected to the at least one handle panel. The collapsible tubular structure further includes an expansion facilitator which has at least one tab coupled to one of the inner and outer panels. The at least one tab interrupts the first fold line.