Food Container Corner Tab Stability Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers and packaging for food products are unstable, particularly in corner areas, leading to potential destruction under pressure loads and unsafe storage.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring articulated corner tabs and adhesive tabs that connect to a flange element via fold lines, enhancing stability, and a packaging solution incorporating a film-like lining material for secure closure, ensuring safe storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional container designs are used, then manufacturing is simple, but stability in corner areas deteriorates under compressive loads

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into modular components including corner tabs, side wall elements, base wall elements, and flange elements that can be separately manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall stability without requiring complex integrated designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The corner tabs are nested within the corner regions of the receiving opening, with adhesive tabs positioned within adhesive application areas. This nesting arrangement allows multiple functional elements to be integrated in a compact manner, increasing stability without proportionally increasing overall construction complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If corner tabs with adhesive flaps are added to increase stability, then reliability under pressure improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Adhesive tabs are pre-positioned on the corner tabs during the blank formation stage, before the container is assembled. This preliminary action ensures proper adhesive placement and bonding strength while simplifying the manufacturing process, as the adhesive is already in position rather than requiring separate application steps during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The corner tabs are designed to automatically align and position themselves within the corner regions during assembly, with the adhesive tabs self-aligning to the base wall elements. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for complex positioning fixtures or manual adjustment, maintaining ease of manufacture while ensuring reliable bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4368529A1Container, blank and package
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 MM PACKAGING GMBH
  • EP4368529A1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4368529A1 patent drawingFigure 1b~1c
  • EP4368529A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a container (10), in particular for receiving a food product, comprising at least one bottom wall element (12), a flange element (28) adjoining the bottom wall element (12), wherein the flange element (28) surrounds at least one receiving opening (72), and side wall elements (14a, 14b, 16a, 16b, 18, 20) connecting the bottom wall element (12) and the flange element (28), wherein at least one flange tab (26) is hinged to the side wall element (16b) and is designed to abut the flange element (28). In corner areas (78) of the receiving opening (72) at least one corner tab (36a, 36b; 38a, 38b; 40a, 40b; 42a, 42b) is hinged to the flange element (28) via at least one fold line (44) in such a way that the corner tab (36a, 36b; 38a, 38b; 40a, 40b; 42a, 42b) projects into the receiving opening (72) and is connected to the bottom wall element (12).The invention further relates to a blank cut from a flat material for the manufacture of a container and packaging.