Folding Box With Pivotable Front Wall And Push-In Lip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing folding boxes for cakes are complex to open and close, and users often struggle to understand how to open the front side, leading to potential damage to the cake during extraction.

Innovation Solution

A folding box design featuring a pivotable front wall with a push-in lip that engages with an opening in the lid panel, allowing easy opening and closing without additional fastening, and rounded fixing flaps for simplified folding and visibility of the front wall for easy closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the front wall is connected to side walls by tear-off lips as in EP 2 295 330, then the cake can be extracted easily, but the box becomes too complex for users to understand how to open

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCake extraction easeVSAvoidOpening mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the opening function from a complex multi-component mechanism and concentrates it into a single integrated push-in lip on the front wall. This lip is designed to push through the sealing flap when pressed, automatically opening the box without requiring users to understand complex tearing or folding sequences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The push-in lip mechanism is designed to be self-operating - when the user presses the lip, it automatically pushes through the sealing flap and opens the box without requiring additional manual actions or understanding of complex mechanisms. The system serves itself by converting simple pressing motion into effective opening action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If many manual actions are required to erect the box as in EP 0 274 982, then the box can be closed securely, but opening and closing becomes awkward

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveBox closure securityVSAvoidOpening and closing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The push-in lip is pre-positioned on the front wall in a ready state. When the user needs to open the box, the lip is already in place to perform the opening action immediately upon pressing, eliminating the need for multiple preparatory manual actions required in previous designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If adhesive tapes or ribbons are used to keep the lid closed, then the lid can be secured, but the box becomes more complex and requires additional materials

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLid closure securityVSAvoidClosure mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the closure function from external adhesive tapes or ribbons and integrates it into the box structure itself through the push-in lip mechanism. The lip forms an inherent part of the front wall and provides closure security without requiring any additional external materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The push-in lip serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural element of the front wall, provides the opening mechanism when pressed, and serves as the closure security feature when in its resting position. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate adhesive tapes or ribbons.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3061698B1Folding box for cakes and other pastries
Publication Date: 2017.11.01 V DE V NV
  • EP3061698B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention concerns a folding box (1) for cakes, comprising, in erected state, a base panel (2) for receiving a cake, limited by an opposing front wall (3) and rear wall (4) and two opposing side walls (5, 6), and furthermore a lid panel (7) which is pivotably connected to the rear wall (4) and, in erected state, comprises a top panel (8) and three wall panels (9, 10, 11) extending at right angles from the top panel (8), wherein the first (9) and second (10) opposing wall panels are connected to the third (11) front panel, wherein the front wall (3) is connected only to the base panel (2) and is pivotable between a first and a second state.