Foldable Article Sliceform Placement via Paper Mechanic

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foldable articles, such as greeting cards, require sliceforms to straddle the fold to transition from a two-dimensional to a three-dimensional configuration, limiting their placement and orientation to only the center and perpendicular orientation when open.

Innovation Solution

A paper mechanic, such as a criss-cross lift, box lift, or collapsible lift, extends across the fold to actuate the sliceform, allowing it to transition between configurations without straddling the fold, enabling placement at any location and unique orientations relative to the panels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the sliceform straddles the fold of the greeting card, then the sliceform can transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional configuration, but the placement location and orientation of the sliceform are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplacement location and orientation flexibilityVSAvoidsliceform mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the mechanism into two independent parts: the sliceform element and the paper mechanic. The sliceform can be positioned anywhere on the card front while the paper mechanic (located at the fold) provides the actuating force. This segmentation allows the sliceform to be decoupled from the fold location constraint, enabling flexible placement and orientation while maintaining the pop-up functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The paper mechanic acts as an intermediary between the fold motion and the sliceform. Instead of directly connecting the sliceform to the fold (which would require straddling), the paper mechanic transfers the work of opening the card to the sliceform through mechanical linkage. This intermediary mechanism enables indirect actuation, providing design freedom while maintaining functional connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the sliceform is positioned entirely on one panel, then design freedom is increased, but a mechanism is needed to transfer work across the fold

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesliceform positioning flexibilityVSAvoidpaper mechanic structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The paper mechanic is designed as a universal mechanism that can accommodate various sliceform positions and orientations. Whether the sliceform is positioned on the left panel, right panel, center, or oriented at different angles, the same paper mechanic principles (criss-cross lift, box lift, or collapsible lift) can be applied. This multi-functionality allows the mechanism to adapt to different design requirements without requiring fundamentally different solutions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11450239B2Foldable article with sliceform

Publication Date: 2022.09.20 HALLMARK CARDS INC

AI summary

A foldable article may have a first panel separated from a second panel by a fold, a paper mechanic affixed to at least one of the first panel and the second panel, and a sliceform affixed to the sliceform, the foldable article is movable between a closed state and a fully open state, the paper mechanic is configured to move the sliceform from a substantially two-dimensional, collapsed state to a substantially three-dimensional, expanded state when the foldable article is moved from the closed state to the fully open state.