Flexible Re-closable Packaging with Mechanical Ridge Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing re-closable packaging assemblies face challenges with contamination affecting adhesive coatings, leading to reduced sealing effectiveness and increased production costs due to the use of injection-molded plastic lids, which are expensive and time-consuming to produce.
Innovation Solution
A re-closable packaging assembly featuring a container formed from a first sheet with a closure assembly that includes a pivotable lid member and a hinge portion, where the lid member engages a ridge on the container via a channel, allowing for reliable sealing without adhesive degradation from contaminants, and is manufactured in a single process step to reduce costs and production time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an adhesive coating is applied to the flap or container surface for sealing, then the re-closable packaging can be sealed effectively, but the adhesive coating becomes contaminated by dust, moisture, or powder, reducing sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive coating from the sealing interface entirely, extracting the harmful element that becomes contaminated. Instead, it uses a mechanical interlocking system with engagement features (ridge and channel) that physically connect the lid member to the container without requiring adhesive, thereby eliminating the contamination problem while maintaining reliable sealing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces engagement features (ridge and channel structures) as intermediary mechanical elements between the lid member and container. These features serve as mediators that provide secure attachment and sealing through physical interlocking rather than adhesive bonding, preventing contamination issues while ensuring reliable re-closability
2Reliability
If an injection-molded plastic lid assembly is used to avoid adhesive contamination, then sealing reliability is maintained, but production cost and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lid member, hinge portion, and engagement features into a single integrated structure formed from one continuous sheet material. This eliminates the need for separate injection-molded plastic lid assemblies and their complex attachment processes, reducing production cost and time while maintaining sealing reliability through the integrated mechanical engagement system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible sheet material (such as laminated films) to form the entire closure assembly, replacing rigid injection-molded plastic components. This allows the lid member and engagement features to be formed in a single sheet forming operation, significantly simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the mechanical interlocking sealing mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A re-closable packaging assembly includes a container formed at least partially by a first film, and the container has a plurality of walls that cooperate to define an interior volume. The container has an opening through at least one of the plurality of walls. A closure assembly is secured to the container adjacent the opening and comprises a second film and a portion of the first film. The closure assembly includes a lid member pivotable about a hinge portion between a first position in which the lid member releasably engages the container surrounding the opening and a second position in which the lid member is pivoted away from the opening. A first engagement feature may be disposed on the container and a second engagement feature may be disposed on the lid member to removably secure the lid member to the container when the lid member is in the first position.