Folding Box Hanging Tab Merged With Rear Side

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cuboid folding boxes with hanging tabs require additional manufacturing steps and increased costs due to the need to separate and glue components, leading to instability and manufacturing inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A folding box design where the hanging tab is hinged to the rear side via a folding section with parallel edges, allowing it to fold over 180° without separation, ensuring stability and eliminating the need for additional manufacturing steps, with a folding chain section for guided movement and dust flaps for locking in position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the hanging tab is separated from the rest of the folding box to enable movement, then the hanging tab can be moved between retracted and extended positions, but additional manufacturing steps (breaking out surfaces, gluing retaining surfaces) are required which significantly increase manufacturing cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovability of hanging tabVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hanging tab is merged with the rear side of the folding box through a folding section, forming an integrated structure that eliminates the need for separate components. The folding section acts as a hinge that allows movement while maintaining structural unity, thereby eliminating additional manufacturing steps such as breaking out surfaces and gluing retaining surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The folding section provides dynamic movement capability to the hanging tab, allowing it to transition between retracted and extended positions through folding motion. This dynamic mechanism replaces static separation methods while reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the hanging tab is separated from the rest of the folding box, then it can be moved relative to the folding box, but the hanging tab cannot be attached very stably to the folding box

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovability of hanging tabVSAvoidstability of hanging tab attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The folding section merges the hanging tab with the rear side of the folding box, creating a unified structure where the hanging tab is both movable and stably attached. The folding section acts as an integrated hinge that provides both movement capability and structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The folding section employs curved folding lines that allow smooth rotational movement while maintaining structural integrity. The curved geometry enables the hanging tab to pivot between positions while remaining firmly connected to the folding box.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Manufacturing precision

If additional areas of the folding box blank are glued together to ensure the hanging flap cannot be moved beyond intended positions, then the hanging tab is constrained to proper positions, but two additional work steps are incurred which significantly increase manufacturing cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition control of hanging tabVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The folding box blank is segmented into functional zones including the folding section with predefined folding lines. These scoring lines guide the folding process and naturally constrain the hanging tab to proper positions without requiring additional gluing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The folding lines are pre-scored and pre-formed during blank fabrication, establishing the movement paths and position limits of the hanging tab before final assembly. This preliminary structuring eliminates the need for post-assembly gluing operations to control tab position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2455293B1Suspendible square-shaped folding box
Publication Date: 2014.01.08 BSN MEDICAL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2455293B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2455293B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2455293B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The cuboidal folding box (1) has a front side (3) and a back side that are arranged parallel to one another. A circumferential side wall (7) comprising four side surfaces (9,15) is connected with front and back sides. One of the side surfaces of circumferential side wall is movable between an open position and a closed position. A hanging tab (29) connected to back side is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The hanging tab is provided with a folding portion (27) that comprises two edges that are arranged in parallel.