Carton Liner Vent Passageway for Altitude Pressure Relief

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Hermetically sealed cartons fail to maintain barrier properties when shipped to higher elevations due to pressure differentials, leading to potential rupture and loss of contents.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a vent passageway in the liner of the carton that extends through its walls, allowing controlled air flow to relieve pressure differentials, thereby maintaining the carton's integrity during changes in altitude.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the liner is hermetically sealed, then barrier properties are improved, but the enclosure may expand and rupture when shipped to higher elevations due to pressure differentials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebarrier propertiesVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The liner incorporates a vent passageway with controlled porosity that allows gas pressure to escape while maintaining barrier properties. The vent passageway includes a vent chamber and vent opening that regulate pressure relief, preventing rupture while preserving the hermetic seal's protective function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The vent passageway is segmented into distinct functional zones: a vent chamber for pressure accumulation and a vent opening for controlled release. This segmentation allows the system to manage pressure differentials systematically while maintaining overall seal integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the liner is hermetically sealed, then freshness and quality of contents are maintained, but pressure differential causes deformation and potential failure during altitude changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreshness maintenanceVSAvoidpressure differential
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vent passageway converts the harmful effect of pressure differential into a beneficial pressure-regulation mechanism. By allowing controlled venting, the system prevents the harmful buildup of internal pressure while maintaining the hermetic seal's freshness-preserving function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The vent passageway acts as an intermediary between the enclosed contents and the external environment. It mediates pressure differential effects by providing a controlled pathway for pressure equalization, protecting the contents from direct exposure to harmful pressure changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If vent passageway is added to relieve pressure, then structural integrity is maintained during altitude changes, but hermetic seal and barrier properties may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidbarrier properties
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vent passageway is designed with localized quality variations: the vent chamber provides a larger volume for pressure management while the vent opening provides precise control over gas flow. This local differentiation allows pressure relief while maintaining barrier properties in other areas of the liner.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The vent passageway utilizes controlled porosity to achieve selective permeability. The structure allows gas molecules to pass through the vent opening while maintaining barrier properties against contaminants, balancing pressure relief with protection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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

The vent passageway effectively reduces the risk of carton rupture by allowing small amounts of air to escape, maintaining the freshness and quality of contents and preventing deformation of the carton's seals.

Implementation Method 1

the vent passageway is configured for automatically in a predetermined manner relieving gas pressure from within an area enclosed by the liner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

allowing only a small amount of air flow therethrough, for at least partially relieving any pressure differential between the interior and the exterior

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas flow:

Data Source

PatentEP2691307B1Package with pressure control feature, blank therefor and method of forming the same
Publication Date: 2016.03.16 GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL LLC
  • EP2691307B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2691307B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2691307B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A carton may include a linter. The liner may include one or more pressure control features for automatically relieving pressure from within an area enclosed by the liner. A pressure control feature may be in the form of one or more vent passageways extending through the liner.