Cigarette Pack Collar with Adjustable Bottom Flap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cigarette packs struggle to accommodate cigarette groups or rod-shaped objects with varying dimensions without requiring expensive conversions of packaging machines, as they often have different dimensions than the standard pack size, leading to insecure holding and space inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A pack design featuring a collar with a transversely extending bottom flap supported by bearing elements on the collar side walls, and optionally a filler piece with a pivotable tab, allows for flexible adaptation to different dimensions by compensating for height and depth differences, ensuring secure holding and efficient use of space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pack uses a fixed collar structure, then the manufacturing is simple, but it cannot accommodate cigarette groups with varying dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The collar structure incorporates a bottom flap that can be positioned at different depths to accommodate varying cigarette group dimensions. The bottom flap is secured by bearing elements that allow it to be adjusted to different positions, enabling the collar to adapt dynamically to different pack contents while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is divided into functional segments: the main collar body and the adjustable bottom flap. This segmentation allows the bottom flap to be independently positioned and secured by bearing elements, providing adaptability to different cigarette group dimensions without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Volume of stationary object
If the pack interior space is reduced to accommodate smaller cigarette groups, then space efficiency improves, but the height of the cigarette block must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reducing cigarette block height, the solution extends the bottom flap in the depth dimension of the pack. This allows the collar to compensate for smaller cigarette group dimensions by utilizing the depth dimension, thereby maintaining standard cigarette block height while improving space efficiency.
3Reliability
If bearing elements are added to secure the bottom flap, then the bottom flap positioning is secured, but the collar structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing elements are embossed directly in the collar side walls, creating self-contained positioning features that secure the bottom flap without requiring additional external components. The bearing elements work together with corresponding bearing features on the bottom flap to provide automatic positioning and securing.
4Ease of manufacture
If the pack is designed for standard dimensions, then production is cost-effective, but it cannot flexibly accommodate different market specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The collar with the adjustable bottom flap serves multiple functions: it maintains the standard pack exterior dimensions for cost-effective production, while the bottom flap can be positioned at different depths to accommodate various cigarette group dimensions required by different market specifications. This universal design eliminates the need for expensive machine conversions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a pack for cigarettes or rod-form articles, having a box part (11), which is delimited at least by a front wall (15), a rear wall (12), side walls (16, 17) and a base wall (14), wherein the box part (11) serves for accommodating at least one preferably cuboidal cigarette group (29), or group of rod-form articles, wrapped in an inner blank (30), and wherein the pack (10) has predetermined dimensions relating to the width, the depth and the height, and at least one dimension of the at least one cigarette group (29), or of the group of rod-form articles, is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the interior of the box part (11), and therefore the at least one cigarette group (29), or the group of rod-form articles, does not fill the interior of the box part (11) as far as the at least one dimension is concerned, and wherein the box part (11) contains a collar (26), at least comprising a collar front wall (27), which butts against the front wall (15) of the box part (11), and collar side walls (28), which are adjacent to side walls (16, 17) of the box part (11). The invention is characterized in that at least one base flap (32, 62) is arranged in extension of the collar front wall (27) and, forming an underside support for the at least one cigarette group (29), or group of rod-form articles, is directed transversely to the collar front wall (27), and therefore the collar (26) serves to compensate for at least one different dimension of the cigarette group (29), or group of rod-like articles.