Consumer Goods Container Lid Surface Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional containers for consumer goods, such as smoking articles, face challenges in providing a uniform inner surface for branding and communication due to non-uniformity caused by dust flaps, making it difficult to apply indicia and requiring significant modifications to manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring a laminar blank with second lid portion side flaps forming dust flaps on the side walls instead of the top wall, creating a uniform inner surface on the lid portion top wall suitable for branding and communication, while allowing manufacturing on existing machines with minor modifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dust flaps are positioned on the lid top wall to seal the container, then the sealing function is improved, but the uniformity of the inner surface is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoiduniformity of inner surface
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The dust flap structure is segmented into two separate components: the lid top wall and the lid side walls. The dust flap is positioned on the lid side walls rather than the lid top wall, separating the sealing function from the branding surface, thereby maintaining both sealing effectiveness and surface uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dust flap is extracted from the lid top wall and repositioned to the lid side walls. This extraction removes the non-uniform element from the branding surface while preserving the sealing function where it is less critical for visual presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Area of stationary object

If the container size is increased to provide more surface area for branding, then the available surface area is improved, but the material cost and manufacturing complexity are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface area for brandingVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The branding surface is extended into the third dimension by utilizing the inner surface of the lid top wall, which becomes accessible and uniform due to the repositioned dust flaps. This vertical dimension provides additional branding area without increasing the horizontal footprint of the container.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The inner surface of the lid top wall is transformed from a non-functional area to a high-quality branding surface. By ensuring this surface is uniform and accessible, the invention creates a premium local area for branding that enhances consumer communication without requiring overall container enlargement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Shape

If dust flaps are repositioned to form part of the lid side walls, then the uniformity of the lid top wall inner surface is improved, but the structural complexity of the lid portion is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of lid top wall inner surfaceVSAvoidstructural complexity of lid portion
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dust flap structure is merged with the lid side walls, combining the sealing function with the existing structural elements. This integration maintains structural efficiency while achieving the desired uniformity on the lid top wall inner surface for branding purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lid side walls are given multiple functions: they provide structural support for the lid portion and simultaneously house the dust flaps for sealing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby minimizing structural complexity while achieving the uniform branding surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3261956B1Container for consumer goods having a uniform lid surface
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA
  • EP3261956B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3261956B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3261956B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

There is provided a container (100) for consumer goods, the container (100) comprising a box portion (12) and a lid portion (14) both formed from a single laminar blank. The lid portion (14) comprises a lid portion back wall (28) depending from a box portion back wall (26), a lid portion top wall (130) depending from the lid portion back wall (28), and a lid portion front wall (32) depending from the lid portion top wall (130). The lid portion (14) further comprises two first lid portion side flaps (88) depending from the lid portion back wall (28), two second lid portion side flaps (138; 238; 338) depending from the lid portion top wall (130), and two third lid portion side flaps (96) depending from the lid portion front wall (32). The lid portion (14) comprises first and second lid portion side walls (134, 136), wherein each lid portion side wall (134, 136) comprises one of each of the first, second and third lid portion side flaps.