Compressed Envelope with Airtight Storage for Fragile Item Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for manufacturing envelopes with protection for fragile objects result in additional manufacturing costs that are not fully offset by the reduction in packaging costs, despite optimizing the size of the envelopes for shipping.
Innovation Solution
An envelope design featuring an airtight storage area with compressible padding means, where the storage area and padding are initially compressed, and an opening system allows air to enter upon use, restoring the padding's protective properties, eliminating the need for an additional flexible enclosure and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If an additional flexible enclosure is used to maintain the envelope in compressed state before use, then the size of the envelope is reduced before use, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the compression maintenance function into the envelope structure itself by making the storage area airtight. The airtight seal integrates the function of maintaining compression without requiring a separate flexible enclosure, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while achieving volume reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the unnecessary flexible enclosure from the system. By making the storage area itself airtight, the design removes the additional enclosure layer that was previously needed to maintain compression, simplifying the overall structure and reducing manufacturing costs.
2Volume of moving object
If the storage area is made airtight to maintain compression, then the volume is reduced before use, but the complexity of the envelope structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airtight seal is integrated directly into the envelope walls and closure mechanism, merging the compression maintenance function with the basic envelope structure. This eliminates the need for separate components and reduces overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible airtight sheet material to create the envelope, where the thin film itself provides the airtight barrier. This approach maintains simplicity by using a single flexible material that inherently provides both structure and sealing functionality.
3Volume of moving object
If the padding means are compressed to reduce envelope size, then the volume is reduced, but the protective properties are lost until use
Solution Approach 1:
The padding is pre-compressed during manufacturing and maintained in this state through the airtight seal. The compression is released automatically at the moment of use when the envelope is opened, ensuring protective properties are restored exactly when needed without requiring additional actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in pressure and volume parameters of the padding material. The airtight seal maintains high pressure and low volume during storage, while opening the envelope allows pressure equalization and volume expansion, automatically restoring protective properties through physical parameter changes.
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
This design reduces the size and manufacturing costs of envelopes with protection before use, while ensuring effective protection of the object during shipping by allowing the padding to regain its damping properties when the envelope is opened.
Implementation Method 1
the storage area is airtight
Implementation Method 2
the latter allows ambient air to penetrate, which allows the padding means to resume their initial volume before compression
Implementation Method 3
compressible padding means consisting of a damping material are arranged in this storage area to protect the object deposited in the envelope
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The envelope (1) has a compressible padding material (11) arranged inside a hermetic storage zone (9) defined by faces (2, 3). An external side (2a) of one of the faces includes opening systems for hermetically maintaining the zone and releasing a slot (15) providing access to the zone during utilization of the envelope. The other face includes a flap (10) covering the slot in a folded position of the flap. A fixing unit is formed of an adhesive layer (17) and arranged between the flap and the external side of the former face. A removable adhesive tape (16) hermetically covers the slot. The padding material is constituted of flexible polyurethane foam sheets.