Carton Locking Tabs and Slots for Stable Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carton designs for stacking and securing multiple cartons together lack efficient locking mechanisms, leading to instability and inconvenience in storage and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A carton design featuring foldable panels and flaps with locking tabs and apertures that allow for secure engagement and reconfiguration of multiple cartons, forming a stable and portable system with a handle for easy carrying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If cartons are stacked without locking features, then stacking is simple and quick, but the stacked structure is unstable and may collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into separate components: locking tabs attached to the top surface of lower cartons, and locking slots formed on the bottom surface of upper cartons. This segmentation allows each component to be independently optimized and simplified, with the tab providing the locking protrusion and the slot providing the receiving cavity, together forming a stable stacked structure without requiring a complex integrated locking system
Solution Approach 2:
The locking tab of a lower carton is inserted into the locking slot of the upper carton, creating a nested interlocking structure. The tab fits within the slot cavity, with the tab width being less than the slot width to allow proper engagement. This nesting arrangement provides stable stacking while maintaining simple geometric forms for both components
2Adaptability or versatility
If cartons are designed with reconfigurable top portions, then versatility and adaptability are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The top portion of the carton is designed with foldable flaps that can be dynamically reconfigured between different positions. The flaps are attached to the side walls and can be folded to different angles, allowing the top portion to adapt to different stacking configurations and handling requirements while maintaining a relatively simple blank structure that can be easily manufactured
Solution Approach 2:
The top portion is segmented into multiple independent flaps rather than a single rigid structure. Each flap can be independently folded and positioned, providing reconfigurability. The flaps are formed from separate sections of the blank that can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing overall manufacturing complexity compared to a fully integrated rigid top structure
Data Source
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AI summary
A carton for holding one or more articles includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels including a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel. The carton also includes a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels and forming a closed top portion of the carton, the closed top portion of the carton is reconfigurable between a first configuration having a substantially flat profile and a second configuration forming a handle of the carton. The carton also includes locking features for engaging at least one other carton.