Envelope Flap with Reversible Retaining Means
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard envelopes with damping means face issues of damping effectiveness and user convenience, as thicker damping materials are difficult to integrate and may be lost or appear incomplete, affecting appearance and customer confidence in purchase.
Innovation Solution
An envelope design featuring a compartment with a reversible holding mechanism and a non-reversible closure mechanism, allowing the flap to be temporarily held closed during manufacturing and display, ensuring the damping means remain secure until final use, and providing a complete and aesthetically uniform product.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the envelope includes a damping means that is thick enough to be effective, then the damping effectiveness is improved, but the damping means becomes difficult to integrate into the envelope casing
Solution Approach 1:
The envelope system is divided into separate functional components: the envelope casing, the independent damping means, and the securing means. This segmentation allows the damping means to be manufactured separately with optimal thickness for effectiveness, then integrated into the envelope using the securing means, resolving the conflict between damping effectiveness and integration difficulty
Solution Approach 2:
The securing means acts as an intermediary mechanism that connects the damping means to the envelope casing. This intermediary component enables the integration of thick damping material without requiring the damping means to be manufactured as an integrated part of the envelope, thus maintaining both damping effectiveness and ease of manufacture
2Ease of operation
If the damping means is made independent and removable, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of loss or involuntary withdrawal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The securing means is designed to automatically engage with the damping means upon insertion into the envelope casing. This preliminary action of automatic securing prevents the damping means from being accidentally lost or withdrawn, while still allowing intentional removal by the user when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The securing means is designed to be temporarily engaged during normal operation but can be easily released when the damping means needs to be removed or replaced. This allows the system to transition between a secured state (preventing loss) and an accessible state (allowing operation)
3Ease of operation
If the envelope is sold with the flap open for display purposes, then the ease of operation is improved, but the appearance deteriorates and the product appears incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The holding means is extracted as a separate functional element from the final closure system. It allows the flap to be held in a closed position for aesthetic display purposes during shipping and retail, but can be easily removed or overridden when the user needs to access the envelope, thus separating the display function from the operational function
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to an envelope (1) comprising: - a front layer (2) and a back layer (4), assembled to form a compartment (6) having an opening (10) along a first longitudinal edge (12) of the envelope, - a flap (8), disposed along said first longitudinal edge (12) of the envelope and having an open position in which the compartment (6) is accessible via its opening (10), and a closed position in which the flap (8) at least partially covers the opening (10) of the compartment (6), and - a closure means (24) configured to hold the flap (8) in the closed position in a non-reversible manner. - The envelope (1) also includes a retaining means (30) configured to hold the flap (8) in the closed position and to allow the flap (8) to be returned to the open position before the use of the closure means (24).