Elongated Article Packet with Inner Stiffener and Adhesive Closure
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packets for elongated articles, such as cigarettes or chewing gum, face difficulties in accessing and extracting all contents due to the design of the closure mechanism, which can leave top articles exposed and difficult to retrieve, and are often more costly than desired.
Innovation Solution
A packet design featuring a U-shaped cutout with curled parallel portions and an inner stiff paper element with ribs, covered by an adhesive label and tab, allows for easy access and removal of all articles without exposing the top ends, while maintaining an airtight seal and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the parallel portions of the cutout are placed at a predetermined distance from the corner edges, then the adhesive label can cover the entire area occupied by the cutout and guarantee an airtight closure, but the top ends of the articles are not exposed and become difficult to access and extricate
Solution Approach 1:
The packet is divided into two functional parts: the outer wrapper with the airtight closure system and the inner packet containing the articles. This segmentation allows the outer wrapper to maintain full airtight closure while the inner packet provides easy access to all articles through its own opening mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner packet acts as an intermediary between the user and the articles. It provides a separate access path that does not compromise the outer wrapper's airtight seal, allowing users to retrieve articles without exposing the top ends through the outer wrapper's closure area.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional hinge-lid packet design is used, then the top ends of all articles are exposed when opened, but the packet structure is more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The packet system is segmented into an outer wrapper and an inner packet, each with distinct functions. The outer wrapper provides a simpler closure system without the need for complex hinge-lid mechanisms, while the inner packet handles the article access function, thereby reducing overall structural complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The article access function is extracted from the outer wrapper and transferred to the inner packet. This allows the outer wrapper to have a simpler, less costly closure design while the inner packet provides the necessary access mechanism, eliminating the need for complex hinge-lid structures in the outer wrapper.
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 packet design ensures all articles can be easily removed without the drawbacks of prior art, providing a cost-effective solution for accessing and extracting elongated items while maintaining a tight, airtight seal.
Implementation Method 1
The closure element and an area around the selfsame element are covered completely by an adhesive label
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A packet filled with articles (2) of elongated shape comprises a substantially parallelepiped outer wrapper (7) presenting a front wall (8), a rear wall or back (9), two flank walls (10), a top (11) and a base (12), and scored or punched with a cutout (13) delimiting a closure flap (17); the cutout (13) appears as transverse line occupying a central area of the front wall (8), and two lines extending from the ends of the transverse line, at a predetermined distance from the corner edges of the relative flank walls (10), along the front wall (8) and at least across the width of the top (11). The area of the wrapper (7) occupied by the cutout (13) is covered by an adhesive label (19) furnished with a pull tab (20). The packet (1) comprises an inner element (21) serving to fill two longitudinal and substantially parallelepiped spaces within the wrapper (7), each coinciding positionally and dimensionally at one end with a relative portion of the top (11) lying outside the line of the cutout (13).