Collapsible Collar Rigid Packet for Cigarette Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid cigarette packets with reduced size face challenges in providing sufficient space for health warnings and other information due to limited external surface area, and the empty space inside can cause instability and aesthetics issues, while existing solutions fail to offer easy access and reclosability.
Innovation Solution
A packet design featuring a collapsible collar that protrudes inside the container, allowing the wrapper to occupy less volume, with a hinged closing flap for easy access and stability enhancement through a fixed tab, ensuring the packet remains rigid and aesthetically pleasing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the packet size is reduced to accommodate fewer cigarettes, then the volume occupied by cigarettes is reduced, but the external surface area available for health warnings and information is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an internal dimension solution by creating a collapsible collar structure inside the packet that can be compressed to reduce volume, rather than reducing the external dimensions. This allows the external surface area to remain sufficient for warnings while the internal volume is dynamically reduced to accommodate fewer cigarettes.
2Volume of moving object
If the packet size is reduced, then the volume for cigarettes is reduced, but the empty space inside increases causing instability and aesthetic issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic collapsible collar structure that can change its volume according to the number of cigarettes placed inside. When fewer cigarettes are inserted, the collar compresses to fill the empty space, preventing cigarette movement and maintaining stability. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the aesthetic and functional problems of fixed empty space.
3Strength
If a rigid collar is used to maintain packet structure, then the packet rigidity is maintained, but the user cannot easily access and close the empty space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the collar structure into multiple collapsible sections or layers that can be independently compressed. This segmentation allows the collar to maintain its rigid outer form for structural support while enabling easy compression of internal sections for user access and closing, combining strength with operational ease.
4Ease of operation
If the collar is made collapsible to allow access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the packet rigidity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where collapsible inner layers are contained within a rigid outer shell. The inner collapsible layers provide ease of operation for accessing and closing empty space, while the outer rigid shell maintains overall packet rigidity and structural integrity, allowing both requirements to coexist.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A rigid packet for smoking articles comprising a container (2) having a front wall (21) and a rear wall (22); a wrapper (3) enclosing smoking articles, said wrapper (3) having a transversal dimension which is less than a corresponding transversal dimension of the container (2) measured as distance between the front wall (21) and the rear wall (22) of the container (2), so as to create an empty chamber (70); and a collar (6) folded around the wrapper (3) with a front wall (61) in contact with the front wall (21) of the container (2), two lateral walls (63) in contact with the lateral walls (23) of the container (2), a rear wall (62) placed parallel to the rear wall (22) of the container (2) at a certain distance, so as to have the empty chamber (70) between the rear wall (62) of the collar (6) and the rear wall (22) of the container (2), and a closing flap (64) hinged on the rear wall (62) of the collar (6), wherein the closing flap (64) includes a first portion (64a) and a second portion (64b) joined together along a folding line (65), said closing flap (64) being operable between a closed position in which it occludes the access to the empty chamber (70) and an open position in which it allows access to the interior of the empty chamber (70).