Cigarette Pack Lid Closure Aid for Gap-Free Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cigarette packs with folding boxes lacking a collar often experience gaps between the lid and the box part when closed, leading to an incomplete seal, which compromises the pack's closure integrity.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a closing aid within the inner pack, featuring a tray with projections or thickening materials that increase friction and create positive connections between the lid and the inner pack, ensuring a secure closed position without gaps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the outer pack is designed as a folding box without a collar, then the device complexity is reduced, but the lid cannot be securely fixed in the closed position and gaps form between the lid and box part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure of outer packVSAvoidclosure integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inner pack serves as an intermediary element between the lid and the box part, providing closing aids that actively engage with the lid to secure it in the closed position. The inner pack's closing aids (protrusions, tabs, or friction elements) act as mediators that transfer and maintain the closed state, compensating for the absence of a collar structure in the outer pack.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The inner pack is designed to automatically provide the closing function through its own structure. The closing aids on the inner pack self-generate the necessary friction or mechanical engagement with the lid without requiring additional components from the outer pack, making the system self-sufficient for maintaining closure integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If the lid closing edge rests directly on the box part closing edge, then the closing precision is improved, but the lid cannot be held firmly in the closed position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment of closing edgesVSAvoidholding force of closed lid
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The solution changes the friction parameter between the lid and closing surface by introducing closing aids with high-friction materials or geometries. This parameter change allows the lid to be held firmly in the closed position through increased frictional forces, while maintaining the direct contact and precise alignment of closing edges without requiring a collar.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If closing aids with high friction material are added to the inner pack, then the lid can be securely held in closed position, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding force of closed lidVSAvoidproduction of closing aids
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than making the entire inner pack complex, the solution applies local quality by adding high-friction material or friction-enhancing geometries only at specific closing aid locations on the inner pack. This localized approach maintains ease of manufacture for the overall structure while providing the necessary friction at critical points to secure the lid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This solution effectively maintains the lid in a closed position by generating increased frictional forces and positive connections, preventing gaps and ensuring the pack remains sealed.

Implementation Method 1

a closing aid for the lid (13) of the outer packaging (10), such that in the closed position of the lid, increased frictional forces and/or positive connections become effective between the lid (13) and the inner packaging (11)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The means for securing the closed position of the lid, i.e. in particular a projection, is effected by the tray (39)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3438015B1Package for cigarettes
Publication Date: 2021.01.20 FOCKE & CO (GMBH & CO KG)
  • EP3438015B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3438015B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3438015B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

In cigarette packs consisting of an inner pack (11), in particular a foil-sealed pack, and an outer pack (10) in the form of a hinged box without a collar, an additional closing aid for the lid is provided. The inner pack (11) or a supporting element within the foil pack creates a projection extending beyond the contour of the inner pack (11) in the area of ​​the lid (13), in particular a lid side wall, which, due to contact with the lid side wall, generates an increased closing force.