Cigarette Package Multi-Use Opening Aid Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cigarette packs lack effective protection for cigarettes within the sealing film and have inefficient opening mechanisms, which affect the production efficiency and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A cigarette pack design featuring a multi-use opening aid integrated into the inner casing, with an outer actuation tab formed by the outer layer of the inner blank and a removal opening and closure tab formed in a separate inner film layer, ensuring the outer blank remains free of overlying tabs, and utilizing a thermally sealable inner blank for enhanced protection and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing block with inner blank is used to protect cigarettes, then protection of cigarettes is improved, but the opening mechanism becomes complex and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The opening aid is divided into two functional parts: an actuating tab for opening the package and a closure tab for resealing. This segmentation allows each tab to be optimized for its specific function, making the opening mechanism simple and intuitive to operate while maintaining reliable cigarette protection through the sealing block structure
Solution Approach 2:
The closure tab is designed to automatically re-engage with the sealing block when the package is closed, enabling the user to reseal the package without additional tools or complex mechanisms. The tab's geometry and the sealing block's receptacle work together to provide self-aligning, tool-free resealing that maintains package integrity
2Ease of operation
If multiple layers and tabs are added to the inner blank for opening functionality, then opening aid functionality is improved, but the outer surface of the inner blank becomes cluttered with overlapping flaps
Solution Approach 1:
The opening and closure functionality is extracted from the main body of the inner blank and concentrated into a separate, integrated opening aid component. This extraction allows the outer surface of the inner blank to remain smooth and free of overlapping flaps, while the opening aid provides the necessary functional elements in a organized, space-efficient manner
3Ease of operation
If a reusable opening aid is integrated into the inner blank, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating tab and closure tab are merged into a single integrated opening aid component that is formed from a single piece of material with pre-defined weakness lines. This merging eliminates the need for separate assembly steps for multiple tabs, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the reusable opening and closure functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The opening aid is pre-formed with weakness lines and tab geometries during the blank fabrication process, rather than requiring post-assembly operations. This preliminary action allows the complex-shaped opening aid to be created in a single forming operation, reducing manufacturing steps and improving ease of production
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
The design provides improved protection for cigarettes, enhances the opening mechanism for repeated use, and streamlines the production process by maintaining the inner blank's integrity and allowing for efficient sealing and unsealing without external tabs, thus improving user convenience and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the material of the inner foil insert 25 is thermally sealable, so that folded flaps can be joined together by heat and pressure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a package for individual packaged goods, in particular for cigarettes, consisting of an outer package in the form of a hinged box (12) and an inner package as a sealing block (24) with an inner blank (25) surrounding the package contents, in particular a group of cigarettes (11), made of preferably aroma- and moisture-proof, thermally sealable film, which has a reusable opening aid in the area of an inner end wall (36) and preferably in the area of inner side walls and in particular an inner bottom wall (42) folded flaps connected to each other by thermal sealing. According to the invention, it is provided that the sealing block (24) orThe inner blank (25) in the area of the inner end wall (36) has a multi-use opening aid, in which an outer actuating tab (29) is formed by the inner blank (25), in particular by an outer layer (30) of the inner blank (25), and in which a removal opening (27) with opening tab (26) is formed in the area of an inner layer of a continuously multi-layered inner blank (25) or in the area of a separate piece of film (43) attached to the inside of the inner blank (25) or within the multi-layered inner blank (25).