Elastic Retaining Tabs for Confectionery Product Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for packing and retaining wrapped confectionery products, such as cell trays with sheet materials, fail to securely maintain products during handling and display, as they can dislodge when the package is tilted or opened, and do not allow for aesthetically intact presentation without external screens.
Innovation Solution
A wrapped praline positioning and retaining device made from flat paper blanks, featuring a hollow shell with independent friction tabs that securely hold wrapped pralines in place without deforming the packaging, ensuring they remain visible and undamaged during handling and display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sheet materials or plate bodies are used to retain confectionery products in cell trays, then the products are secured in their seats, but the products can dislodge when the package is tilted or opened and the original condition cannot be restored
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining device incorporates elastic elements that can dynamically adapt to the confectionery products, allowing the structure to flex and return to its original shape. This dynamic behavior enables the device to maintain product retention while accommodating package opening and closing movements without permanent deformation or product dislodgment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the retaining structure from rigid to elastic, utilizing materials with specific elastic properties. This parameter change allows the retaining elements to deform under load and then recover, providing continuous product retention while enabling package reconfiguration during opening and closing operations.
2Illumination intensity
If transparent screens or other elements are used to display wrapped confectionery products, then the products are visible from the outside, but the exterior characteristics are altered or made difficult to perceive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the transparent screen or interposing element from the packaging structure, allowing the wrapped confectionery products to be directly visible through the packaging. The packaging is designed to provide structural support and product retention without requiring additional transparent components that would interfere with the visual presentation of the products.
3Reliability
If sheet materials are used to retain confectionery products, then the products are held in place, but the original condition of firm maintenance cannot be restored after the first opening
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic retaining device is designed to flex during package opening and then return to its original configuration, enabling multiple opening and closing cycles. The elastic elements maintain their mechanical properties over repeated use, allowing the package to be opened and closed several times while continuing to provide firm product maintenance in the original condition.
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 device effectively retains wrapped pralines in pre-defined positions, preventing them from dislodging even when the package is overturned, while maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the packaging, ensuring secure and damage-free storage and display.
Implementation Method 1
a wrapped confectionery product, in use inserted in a seat, is retained by an elastic element deformed under the action of the wrapped confectionery product
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~7
AI summary
A plurality of wrapped confectionery products (F) is maintained in a permanent position by housing each confectionery product (F) in a respective housing seat (7) and retaining each confectionery product (F) inside the respective seat (7) in an extractable manner by means of a plurality of retaining tabs (31; 42, 43) independent from one another; the retaining tabs (31; 42, 43) overhangingly protruding inside the seat (7) to exert respective pushing actions against an external lateral wall of the confectionery product (F) when the confectionery product (F) engages the housing seat (7).