Folding Box Reinforcement Strip for Clean Tear-Off

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing folding boxes for frozen food are difficult to handle, cannot be easily resealed, and often result in cardboard scraps contaminating the food, leading to quality issues and unsightly fraying edges.

Innovation Solution

A folding box design featuring virgin fiber paperboard with a polyolefin coating and an integrated reinforcement strip within an elongated indentation, allowing for easy opening and resealing, while preventing cardboard scraps from entering the food compartment and maintaining a clean, smooth edge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a tear-off strip is used to open the folding box, then the box can be opened, but cardboard scraps contaminate the food and the edges fray

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening easeVSAvoidcardboard contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful fraying edges and cardboard scraps are extracted from the opening process by introducing a reinforcement strip that prevents fiber separation. The reinforcement strip is embedded in the tear-off strip structure, allowing clean separation without contaminating the food compartment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The tear-off strip is constructed as a composite structure combining the original cardboard material with a reinforcement strip (made of plastic or metal). This composite design maintains the tear-off functionality while the reinforcement strip prevents fraying and contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If the folding box is opened for access, then the food can be accessed, but the box cannot be reclosed for further storage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess easeVSAvoidreclosure capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The folding box is segmented into a main body and a removable top part connected by the tear-off strip. After opening, the top part can be removed for access and then reattached to reclose the box, enabling both easy access and reclosure capability for further storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If the wall thickness is increased to prevent tearing, then the box strength improves, but the stacking stability and material efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetear resistanceVSAvoidstacking stability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly increasing wall thickness, the reinforcement strip is applied locally at the tear-off strip location where tearing is most likely to occur. This provides targeted strength enhancement without increasing overall material usage or affecting stacking stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The design enhances handling and storage properties by allowing the boxes to be stacked stably, preventing contamination, and maintaining an attractive appearance, while the reinforcement strip ensures smooth separation and resealing without fraying, improving the overall packaging experience.

Implementation Method 1

a reinforcement strip (34) which is connected to the layer of polyolefin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

The primary fiber cardboard is coated with polyethylene on the inside so that the material does not become saturated with fat or liquid.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBarrier protection: Coatings

Data Source

PatentEP2279957B8Folding box for deep-frozen food and device for producing the folding box
Publication Date: 2012.12.12 WALKI GRP OY

AI summary

Folding box for frozen food with • walls made of primary fiber cardboard with a polyolefin layer on the inside, defining a volume for holding frozen food, • a tear strip extending in at least one wall, • wherein the at least one wall has an elongated recess on the inside along the tear strip, in which a reinforcing strip is arranged, which is connected to the polyolefin layer and whose thickness corresponds at most to approximately the depth of the recess.