Pharmaceutical Film Container with Central Tearing Marking

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing film containers for pharmaceutical formulations are difficult to manufacture and open over a large area while maintaining childproof security, as they require additional tabs or complex modifications.

Innovation Solution

A film container design with a central marking between opposing edges for easy tearing, supplemented by a parallel marking for controlled creasing, allowing intuitive opening without tools, and featuring a heat-sealed lacquer for environmental protection, using materials like PVC, aluminum, and PET for durability and light protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional tabs or complex modifications are provided in the closure region, then childproof security is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechildproof securityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the childproof security function from complex structural modifications and relocates it to a simple central marking element. The marking is removed from the context of tabs or edge modifications and placed centrally in the closure region, where it serves as a focal point for controlled opening while maintaining overall package integrity and child resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The central marking is prepared in advance during manufacturing as a predetermined weakness or visual guide. This preliminary action creates a ready-to-use opening indicator that requires no additional tabs or complex structures, yet provides both childproof security through proper sealing and intuitive opening guidance for authorized users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If additional tabs or complex modifications are provided in the closure region, then childproof security is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechildproof securityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the childproof security function from complex structural modifications and relocates it to a simple central marking element. The marking is removed from the context of tabs or edge modifications and placed centrally in the closure region, where it serves as a focal point for controlled opening while maintaining overall package integrity and child resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The central marking is prepared in advance during manufacturing as a predetermined weakness or visual guide. This preliminary action creates a ready-to-use opening indicator that requires no additional tabs or complex structures, yet provides both childproof security through proper sealing and intuitive opening guidance for authorized users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the marking is positioned centrally between opposing edges, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening easeVSAvoidmarking position precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by concentrating the opening function in a specific central location rather than distributing it across multiple tabs or edges. The central marking creates a focused, intuitive opening point that is easily locatable and operable, while the surrounding closure region maintains its sealing integrity. This local concentration simplifies user interaction despite the precision requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of operation

If the film container is designed to open over a large area, then ease of operation is improved, but childproof security deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening easeVSAvoidchildproof security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the opening action into two distinct phases: first, the user locates and interacts with the central marking (providing intuitive guidance); second, the opening propagates from this central point across a large area of the closure region. This segmentation allows the marking to serve as a small, secure control point while the resulting opening covers a large area for easy content access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 design facilitates easy opening and protection of the contents by allowing central tearing with minimal manufacturing complexity, ensuring childproof security and environmental protection without the need for tools, while maintaining a large-area connecting region for safety.

Implementation Method 1

The two films are joined together by a heat-sealing lacquer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat sealing:

Data Source

PatentUS7866474B2Film container

Publication Date: 2011.01.11 BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM INT GMBH

AI summary

A film container (FIG. 4) comprises two rectangular films (5) joined together at their periphery to form a receiving chamber (6) for a filling (7), particularly a pharmaceutical formulation of an active substance, at least one of said films (5) being provided, for the purpose of tearing it open, with a marking (13) formed within the connecting region, which is exposed after the films (5) have been bent. The marking (13) extends centrally between two opposing outer edges (11) of the film container (1).