Cigarette Box Link Mechanism Sideways Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cigarette boxes with hinged lids lack novelty in opening and closing mechanisms, which fails to enhance user buying motivation and visual appeal.
Innovation Solution
A cigarette box design featuring an inner case that moves up and down within an outer case, with a hinged lid connected via a link mechanism, allowing the lid to open and close interlocked with the inner case's movement, providing a unique access opening that projects sideways and stabilizes the operation through guide walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional hinged lid package is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the opening and closing operation lacks novelty and visual attraction
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is transformed from a static hinged structure to a dynamic pop-up structure that moves vertically in response to inner case movement. The link mechanism converts the horizontal movement of the inner case into vertical movement of the lid, creating a lively and novel opening/closing operation that differs from conventional hinged lids.
Solution Approach 2:
A link mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the inner case and the lid. This link acts as a mediator that transfers and transforms movement from the inner case to the lid, enabling the interlocked opening and closing operation while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Device complexity
If the lid is hinged to form part of the top wall, then the structure is compact, but the access opening does not provide unique visual appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The access opening is repositioned from the traditional front-facing orientation to a sideways orientation by hingeing the lid to the side wall instead of the front wall. This dimensional change in hinge location creates a unique visual appeal and novel opening configuration while maintaining structural compactness.
3Ease of operation
If the inner case is made movable within the outer case, then the opening operation becomes more complex, but the user interaction through the window is enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The inner case is designed to be movable within the outer case, allowing users to interact with and push the inner case directly through the window without requiring complex external mechanisms. The structure enables self-service operation where the user's direct interaction with the inner case drives the opening mechanism.
4Reliability
If guide walls are added to stabilize lid turning, then the manufacturing complexity increases, but the opening and closing operation becomes more stable
Solution Approach 1:
Guide walls are added only at specific critical locations where the lid turns during opening and closing operations. This localized addition provides stability where needed without unnecessarily increasing overall manufacturing complexity. The guide walls are strategically positioned to stabilize lid turning motion.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cigarette box includes an inner case (2) enclosing a bundle of cigarettes, an outer case (8) enclosing the inner case (2) in a manner allowing the inner case (2) to be moved up and down, and having a hinged lid (12) forming a part of a top wall thereof and a window (10) formed in a side wall to partly expose the inner case (2), and a link (20) connecting the inner case (2) and the hinged lid (12). When the inner case (2) is pushed up through the window (10) of the outer case (8), the link (20) urges the hinged lid (12) upward so that hinged lid (12) is opened. In an open position, the hinged lid (12) provides an access opening (16) projecting from the plane of the top wall of the outer case (8) and facing sideways of the outer case (8).