Flat Package with Holder Sheet for Drink Cup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging solutions for cup-filled drinks are cumbersome and time-consuming to assemble, especially during busy hours, and occupy valuable space due to their three-dimensional shape before use.
Innovation Solution
A package comprising a flat plastic film bag with a gusset portion and a holder sheet that can be quickly transformed into a three-dimensional shape by extending the bag, featuring thermally welded edges and weak lines for easy opening, allowing for stable cup holding and compact storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cup holder is assembled after receipt of customer order and brought into three-dimensional shape, then the cup holder can provide stable cup holding, but the packaging operation takes significant time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder is pre-formed with a flat two-dimensional structure that includes all necessary components (holding sheet, bottom sheet, side sheets, and gusset portions) in an assembled state before customer order. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for time-consuming assembly operations at the point of sale, while the flat structure allows for rapid transformation into three-dimensional shape when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The package incorporates a transformable structure that can dynamically change from a flat two-dimensional state to a three-dimensional state. The holder sheet and side sheets are designed to be extendable and foldable, allowing the package to adapt its shape based on operational needs - compact for storage and expanded for cup holding functionality.
2Productivity
If a cup holder is assembled in advance and brought into three-dimensional shape, then packaging operation is simplified, but the prepared article is bulky and occupies excessive storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder components are pre-assembled in a flat two-dimensional configuration that maintains all structural relationships needed for final three-dimensional formation. This preliminary assembly in a compact state enables efficient storage while preserving the ability to quickly transform into the functional three-dimensional shape when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The package utilizes dimensionality transformation by storing the cup holder in a flattened two-dimensional state and transforming it into a three-dimensional state during use. The flat structure compresses the volume significantly for storage, while the three-dimensional expansion provides the necessary cup holding capacity, effectively managing the volume contradiction.
3Reliability
If the holder sheet is made with extendable opening edge portion, then the drink cup is held more stably, but the tensile force requires stronger structural support
Solution Approach 1:
The holder sheet is divided into multiple functional portions: an opening edge portion that extends for stable cup contact, a middle portion with fold lines for flexibility, and end portions with thermally welded portions for structural support. This segmentation allows the extendable opening edge to provide stability while the supported portions bear the tensile forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally welded portions act as intermediary support elements that transfer and distribute the tensile forces generated by the extendable opening edge portion. These welded sections provide the necessary structural strength without compromising the extendability of the opening edge, mediating between the stability requirement and the force requirement.
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
Enables rapid and efficient packaging of drink cups, reducing assembly time and storage space requirements while maintaining stability and preventing scrap generation.
Implementation Method 1
thermally welded portions of both edge portions of a side opposite to a side where the holding opening element is provided and the bag main body
Implementation Method 2
thermally fusion-cut portions at both widthwise sides of the bag main body
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
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AI summary
Provided is a package which can be quickly and simply brought into a three-dimensional shape from a folded state to hold a drink cup or the like and is also not bulky in storage before use and a method for manufacturing the same. A package P1 includes a bag main body 1 folded flat, having a gusset portion 10 at a bottom portion, and having an inlet 11 at a side opposite to the gusset portion 10 and a holder sheet 2 folded flat, provided in parallel with the gusset portion 10 at a position close to the bottom portion and separated from the gusset portion 10 in an interior of the bag main body 1, and having a single or plurality of holding openings 21 and 21a, and can be quickly and simply brought into a three-dimensional shape from a folded state to hold a drink cup or the like and is also not bulky in storage before use.