Carton Locking Mechanism for Flat Collapsed Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carton designs lack an effective locking mechanism to securely collapse and store cartons in a flat form, which is essential for efficient packaging and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A carrier system comprising at least four hingedly connected panels that form a tubular structure, equipped with a locking device featuring male and female locking tabs and openings, allowing the carton to be securely locked in a flat collapsed form.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to secure panels in collapsed form, then the carrier can be securely stored in flat form, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the natural collapsing motion of the panels. The male locking tab on one panel automatically engages with the female locking opening on the overlapping panel as the panels collapse, without requiring external actuators, motors, or complex control systems. This self-service approach provides reliable locking while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism uses simple intermediary elements (male locking tabs and female locking openings) that mediate between the collapsing panels to achieve secure locking. These intermediary features are integrated into the panel structures themselves rather than being separate complex assemblies, allowing reliable connection while keeping the overall device complexity low.
2Volume of moving object
If panels are designed to overlap in collapsed form, then the carrier can be compactly stored, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism employs asymmetric male and female locking features where the male locking tab has a specific shape that complements the female locking opening. This asymmetric design provides built-in alignment guidance, allowing the panels to self-align during collapsing without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances. The asymmetric geometry naturally guides the panels into the correct overlapping position.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking tabs and openings are designed with specific local geometric features at the critical engagement points. These localized quality enhancements (such as tapered edges, specific width ratios, and positioning features) concentrate the alignment function at specific locations rather than requiring uniform high precision across entire panels, thereby reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements while achieving compact collapsed volume.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3B~3A
AI summary
A locking device, a package, an article carrier for packaging one or more articles and a blank for forming the carrier. The carrier (90; 290) comprises at least four panels (14, 16, 18, 20; 114, 116, 118, 120) hingedly connected together to form a tubular structure. The carrier (90; 290) comprises a locking device (L1/L2) for locking the tubular structure in a flat collapsed form. In the flat collapsed form, a first one of the at least four panels (14, 16, 18, 20; 114, 116, 118, 120) is in an overlapping arrangement with a second one of the at least four panels (14, 16, 18, 20; 114, 116, 118, 120). The locking device comprises at least one male locking tab (42; 150A, 150B) formed from the first one of the at least four panels (14, 16, 18, 20; 114, 116, 118, 120) and at least one female locking opening for engaging with the at least one male locking tab (42; 150A, 150B). The at least one female locking opening is defined in the second one of the at least four panels (14, 16, 18, 20; 114, 116, 118, 120) at such a position that the at least one female opening registers with the at least one male locking tab when the tubular structure is in the collapsed form (42; 150A, 150B).