Carton Handle Panel Overlap for Liquid-Tight Integrity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cartons lack an effective design for handling and carrying containers while maintaining a liquid-tight structure, especially when used for beverages and ice, as they often compromise the integrity of the handle or access feature, leading to leakage and difficulty in transportation.
Innovation Solution
A carton design featuring a bottom receptacle with gussets for liquid-tight construction, a handle panel that overlaps side panels to create a handle opening separate from the access feature, allowing for secure lifting and transportation without compromising the liquid-tight integrity, and an access feature for adding ice or cooling materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a handle is integrated into the carton structure, then ease of carrying is improved, but structural integrity and liquid-tightness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is formed as a separate integrated feature within the carton body rather than an attached component. The handle opening is positioned in the side wall and surrounded by reinforced structural elements that segment the load-bearing paths, allowing the handle to provide carrying function while the surrounding structure maintains liquid-tight integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is merged into the carton structure as an integrated feature formed from the same material and manufacturing process. The handle opening, reinforcement elements, and carton body are combined into a single structural unit that simultaneously provides both carrying functionality and liquid containment without requiring separate components or assembly steps.
2Ease of operation
If an access feature is provided in the top panel, then ease of accessing contents is improved, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The access feature is positioned in the top panel with localized reinforcement around the opening. The reinforcement elements are concentrated specifically at the access feature location rather than throughout the entire panel, providing enhanced structural strength where needed while maintaining ease of access through the opening.
3Reliability
If gussets are added to the bottom panel, then liquid-tightness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gussets are merged with the bottom panel as an integrated feature formed from the same material and manufacturing process. The gussets extend from the bottom panel to reinforce the liquid-tight structure, and are incorporated into the same forming operation as the carton body, avoiding separate assembly steps and reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton has a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels include a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a top panel, and a handle panel at least partially overlapping one of the first side panel and the second side panel. At least one gusset is foldably connected to the bottom panel and one of the first side panel and the second side panel. An access feature is formed in the top panel for accessing the interior of the carton. A handle includes a handle opening in the handle panel. The handle opening is spaced apart from the access feature.