Container Inner Spacer Element for Secure Article Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for elongate consumer articles, such as smoking articles, fail to securely hold items as the empty space increases during use, leading to movement and potential damage, especially when the articles are not fully occupying the container's volume.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring an integrated inner spacer element with end spacer panels and a middle spacer section, affixed to the container walls using adhesive, which divides the space into a holding compartment smaller than the overall volume, minimizing article movement and allowing secure retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the container volume is made larger than the consumer articles occupy, then the container can accommodate more articles or provide more storage space, but the consumer articles are more likely to be displaced or shaken during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The container internal space is segmented into a holding compartment and an overflow compartment by introducing an inner spacer element. The holding compartment is designed to securely retain consumer articles, while the overflow compartment provides additional storage space. This segmentation allows the container to maintain article retention reliability even when the overall container volume is larger than the articles occupy.
2Reliability
If a spacer element is incorporated to define a smaller holding compartment, then consumer articles are retained more securely, but additional steps and apparatus must be incorporated into the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 1:
The inner spacer element is merged with the container body by integrating it into the laminar blank before assembly. The spacer element is formed as part of the blank structure, allowing it to be assembled simultaneously with the container walls using the same manufacturing apparatus and process steps. This merging eliminates the need for separate spacer element assembly steps and additional specialized apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner spacer element is pre-formed and positioned within the laminar blank before the blank is assembled into the final container. This preliminary action ensures that the spacer element is already in its correct position and orientation when the container is closed, eliminating the need for post-assembly adjustment or additional manufacturing steps.
3Device complexity
If the spacer element is pre-folded and glued to the laminar blank, then integration is achieved, but the spring back force of the partition element may cause the laminar blank to curve and disrupt automated assembly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pre-folding the entire spacer element, only partial folding is applied to create the necessary three-dimensional structure. The spacer element is folded along specific lines to form the holding compartment shape, but the folding is controlled and limited to prevent excessive spring back force. This partial action achieves the required integration while minimizing disruption to the laminar blank's flatness for automated assembly.
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
The inner spacer element effectively retains consumer articles in place, reducing damage and allowing for efficient manufacturing without modifying existing assembly methods, by integrating the spacer element into the laminar blank before assembly, ensuring secure holding even when articles occupy less than the full container volume.
Implementation Method 1
The inner spacer element comprises a first end spacer panel, a second end spacer panel and a middle spacer section extending between the first end spacer panel and the second end spacer panel. The first end spacer panel is affixed to the inner surface of a first wall of the container by means of adhesive provided on the first side of the inner spacer element and the second end spacer panel is affixed to the inner surface of a second wall of the container by means of adhesive provided on the same first side of the inner spacer element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A container (10) for consumer articles comprises a box portion (12); and an inner spacer element (16) mounted within the box portion. The inner spacer element (16) comprises a first end spacer panel (40) affixed to the inner surface of a first wall (22, 32) of the container; a second end spacer panel (44) affixed to the inner surface of a second wall (24) of the container connected to the first wall (22, 32) along a first container edge; and a middle spacer section (42) spaced apart from the first wall (22, 32) to define a holding compartment (48) for consumer articles within the box portion. The middle spacer section (42) is connected to the first (40) and second (44) end spacer panels along first (41) and second (43) spacer hinge lines, respectively. The distance between the first (41) and second (43) spacer hinges lines along the middle spacer section (42) substantially corresponds to the sum of a first distance (x) between the first spacer hinge line (41) and the first container edge and a second distance (y) between the second spacer hinge line (43) and the first container edge.