Thermoformed Clamshell Container Frangible Hinge Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clamshell-style plastic containers for food products face issues with separate waste generation from tamper evident features and the lid becoming detached from the container after use, leading to potential child safety concerns and inefficient disposal.
Innovation Solution
A molded plastic container design where the lid is integrally joined to the container body via a primary hinge that can be fractured, with a secondary hinge and lock mechanism allowing access without creating separate waste, maintaining the lid's connection to the body throughout its use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate corner piece or tear strip is used as a tamper evident feature, then the container provides tamper evidence, but a separate waste item is generated that must be carefully disposed of
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tamper evident feature with the container body by forming the frangible corner section as an integral part of the molded container rather than as a separate piece. This eliminates the need for separate disposal while maintaining the tamper evidence function, as the corner section remains attached to the container body even after the hinge is fractured.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is separable from the container body for access, then the container allows easy opening, but the lid becomes detached and creates child safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hinge connection into two functional parts: a primary hinge that can be fractured to allow lid opening, and a secondary hinge that remains intact to maintain connection. This segmentation enables easy access while preventing complete separation, as the secondary hinge keeps the lid attached to the container body even after the primary hinge is broken.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge system transitions from a static connection to a dynamic two-stage connection. The primary hinge provides initial mobility for opening, then transitions to a secondary hinge that maintains a restrained connection. This dynamic behavior allows the lid to move from a closed state to an open state while maintaining safety through the secondary attachment point.
3Ease of operation
If the lid is hinged to allow filling, then the container allows easy filling, but the same hinge prevents secure sealing after filling
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system dynamically changes function during the container lifecycle. During filling, the primary hinge provides mobility for easy opening and closing. After filling and sealing, the primary hinge is fractured to prevent reopening, while the secondary hinge maintains attachment. This dynamic transition from reversible to irreversible connection ensures both ease of filling and secure sealing.
Data Source
AI summary
A clam shell plastic container includes a rectangular container body with a floor and tapered sides and an integral lid. The container body and lid are thermoformed in one piece and in an open configuration. A first hinge along the side of the container body between the container body and the lid allows the lid to rotate into a closed position on the container body. A tear strip adjacent the first hinge allows a user to separate the lid from the container body to open the container body. After separation the lid is relocked to the container body along the side opposite the first hinge and a second hinge along this opposite side is used thereafter to open the container.