Cigarette Package Top Wall Opening and Rear Bridging Flap
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packaging for consumer goods, particularly cigarette packs, lacks rigidity, leading to distortion and inadequate protection of contents during use, and requires modifications to conventional machinery for assembly.
Innovation Solution
A package design featuring a top wall with an opening that extends across the top and partially down the front, a flap hinged to the rear wall for closure, and a laminar blank construction that includes a bridging portion for improved rigidity, allowing for easier assembly and enhanced resistance to shear forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cutout opening extends across the top wall from front to rear edge, then access to pack contents is improved, but the top wall loses rigidity and the package becomes prone to distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The top wall is segmented into two functional zones: a front portion with a large opening for easy access to contents, and a rear bridging portion that maintains structural rigidity. This segmentation allows the opening to extend far across the top wall while the remaining rear portion continues to provide mechanical support and prevent distortion.
2Quantity of substance
If the package is made from thin card or paper to reduce material usage, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the package lacks rigidity and distorts during use
Solution Approach 1:
The package structure implements local quality by concentrating the rigidity requirement in specific areas. The rear bridging portion of the top wall is designed to maintain full thickness and structural integrity, while the front opening area can be more generous with material. This allows thin card or paper to be used overall while critical structural zones maintain sufficient rigidity.
3Ease of operation
If the opening extends far across the top wall for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but the remaining top wall area is reduced compromising structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The solution addresses the structural integrity issue by transitioning from a two-dimensional top wall to a three-dimensional bridging structure. The rear portion of the top wall extends downward to form a bridging structure that connects to the rear wall, creating a vertical dimension that provides additional structural support and maintains integrity even when the horizontal top wall area is reduced by the opening.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A package 110 for cigarettes comprises a box 112 comprising a front wall 114, a rear wall 116, a bottom wall 122, opposed side walls 118, 118' and a top wall 120 having an opening 124 therein for accessing the cigarettes 146 in the package, in which the opening extends across the top wall from the front edge thereof and wherein the periphery of the access opening is spaced apart from the rear edge 132 and the side edges of the top wall so that the top wall extends around the rear 126 and sides 128, 128' of the opening. A closure flap 130 moveable between a closed position in which the flap covers the opening and an open position in which the opening is uncovered extends from the rear wall of the package. A blank for such a pack is also disclosed.