Rigid Cigarette Package Lid Stability via Segmented Collar
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid cigarette packages with hinged lids tend to spontaneously open, leading to a semi-open position that consumers perceive as malfunctioning, and previous solutions like collars increase wrapping material usage or interfere with sealing flaps, making the pull-out opening smaller and more difficult to use.
Innovation Solution
A rigid cigarette package design featuring a collar that projects from the outer container to engage the lid, holding it in place with claw-shaped elements and a re-stick sealing flap that remains coupled to the collar, ensuring the lid stays closed without interfering with the sealing flap, thus maintaining a stable closed position and minimizing wrapping material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a collar with claw-shaped elements is added to hold the lid closed, then the lid stability is improved, but the wrapping material usage increases and the sealing flap dimensions are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is segmented into functional zones: a front wall with claw-shaped elements for lid engagement, a top wall forming part of the pull-out opening, and a back wall for structural support. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently without excess material usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar utilizes the vertical dimension by projecting from the open top end of the container, creating a three-dimensional structure that engages the lid from below. This dimensional approach provides effective lid retention without requiring additional lateral wrapping material.
2Reliability
If a collar is added to hold the lid closed, then the lid stability is improved, but the sealing flap dimensions are reduced making the pull-out opening smaller
Solution Approach 1:
The collar's top wall is positioned in the vertical dimension to form part of the pull-out opening boundary, rather than reducing the horizontal dimensions of the sealing flap. This allows the pull-out opening to remain sufficiently large for easy cigarette removal while the collar provides lid retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The pull-out opening is segmented into portions formed by different components: the collar's top wall forms one boundary, while the sealing flap forms another. This segmentation allows each component to contribute to the opening structure without compromising the overall size or accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing flap is glued to the lid to enable simultaneous opening, then the ease of operation is improved, but the lid spontaneously opens to a semi-open position
Solution Approach 1:
The collar acts as an intermediary structure between the container and the lid. It provides a mechanical engagement system with claw-shaped elements that actively holds the lid in the closed position, counteracting any spontaneous opening tendency while the sealing flap remains glued to the lid for simultaneous operation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Package (1) for smoking articles having: a group (29) of smoking articles; an outer container (2) having an open top end (3); a lid (4) hinged to the outer container (2) to close the open top end (3); a collar (14) which is glued on the inside of the outer container (2) so as to partially project outwards from the open top end (3) and has a through pull-out opening (20), through which the smoking articles can be pulled out; and a sealing flap (21), which is glued to the collar (14), is arranged on the outside of the collar (14) and on top of the collar (14) itself, covers, at least when the lid (4) is in the closed position, the pull-out opening (20), and is provided with a connecting tab (25) which is permanently and non-removably glued to a front wall (11) of the lid (4) by means of a permanent glue (26) so that the opening and closing of the lid (4) also simultaneously opens and closes the pull-out opening (20).