Closure Tape Message Orientation for Readable Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plastic bags with closure tapes fail to ensure readable messages on both sides when folded, as messages on one side become partially visible and reversed, making them difficult to read from different positions.

Innovation Solution

The closure tape is designed with first messages printed in a standard reading direction on one half and identical second messages in a reversed reading direction on the other half, allowing correct reading from opposite sides when folded, and the bag's walls can be transparent or translucent for visibility before closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If messages are printed on one side of the closure tape, then the message is visible from one side, but the message becomes partially visible and reversed from the opposite side, making it difficult to read

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage readabilityVSAvoidreading comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The closure tape is divided into two halves separated by a folding line, with each half containing different message content oriented for its specific side. This segmentation allows each side to have optimally oriented messages while maintaining a single unified tape structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The message on one side of the folding line is printed in a reversed orientation relative to the other side. This inversion ensures that when the tape is folded, both sides display messages in the correct reading direction for viewers on respective sides, eliminating the mirror image problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Strength

If the closure tape is folded to increase thickness and strength, then the closure tape becomes stronger, but the messages become difficult to read from opposite sides

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure tape strengthVSAvoidmessage readability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The closure tape is segmented into two distinct halves with different message orientations, allowing the folding operation to produce strength while each segment maintains its own optimally oriented message for readability from its respective side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the closure tape have different message orientations tailored to their specific viewing angles. The local quality of message orientation is optimized for each side's viewing perspective while the overall structure provides uniform strength through the folding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the closure tape is made from a single unfolded foil, then the manufacturing is simple, but the messages on one side are visible from the opposite side, jeopardizing readability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmessage readability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The single unfolded foil is segmented into two distinct halves with different message orientations. This segmentation can be achieved through printing techniques on a single sheet before folding, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while ensuring message privacy and readability on both sides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3556681B1Plastic bag with sealing tape
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 EXCLUSIVAS NIMBUS SL
  • EP3556681B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3556681B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3556681B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A bag (10) of flexible plastic film, with a mouthpiece (11) and an annular fold (12) containing at least one flexible plastic closure tape (20) folded in half along a folding line (21) parallel to its longer edge, said closing tape (20) being provided, on one of its faces, with first messages (31) arranged in a reading direction (D1) and located in its entirety in one of the two halves of the closing tape (20) delimited by the folding line (21), and of identical second messages (32) arranged in an inverted reading direction (D2) with respect to the reading direction (D1) and located entirely in the other of the two halves of the closure tape (20).