Food Envelope With Foldable Integrated Lifting Handle

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing packaging solutions for food products, such as sliced dairy and deli items, require multiple bags for transportation, leading to increased costs and material waste, as they lack a convenient and resistant handle for direct transport.

Innovation Solution

A food envelope or bag with a built-in resistant and solid transport handle, featuring a biodegradable paper layer and a compostable polymeric layer, including a lifting handle made of paper or polymeric materials, which can be folded for compact storage and used as a seal, eliminating the need for additional transport bags.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple envelope without handle is used, then the envelope structure is simple and成本低, but an additional transport bag is required which increases packaging complexity and material waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging structureVSAvoidtransport convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the envelope and transport handle into a single integrated structure. The handle is formed by folding the envelope walls themselves to create foot portions that can be gripped, eliminating the need for a separate transport bag while maintaining packaging simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The envelope walls serve dual functions: they form the containment structure and simultaneously create the transport handle through folding. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by providing transport capability without adding packaging complexity.

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

2Ease of operation

If multiple bags are used for transport, then transport convenience is improved, but material waste and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport convenienceVSAvoidpackaging material waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the transport handle function into the envelope structure itself through wall folding, the patent eliminates the need for additional transport bags, thereby reducing material waste while maintaining transport convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The envelope serves its own transport function through the integrated handle formed from its walls, eliminating the need for external transport packaging and reducing overall material consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If a resistant handle is added to the envelope, then transport convenience is improved, but the envelope structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle resistanceVSAvoidenvelope structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is created by folding the existing envelope walls to form foot portions, rather than adding a separate handle component. This integration maintains structural simplicity while providing the necessary resistance and grip for transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle structure is dynamic and adaptable - the foot portions can be folded to different positions and configurations to provide optimal grip and resistance during transport, while returning to a compact form when not in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution provides a cost-effective, waste-reducing packaging option that is resistant to moisture and fats, ensuring easy transport and storage while being compostable, thus addressing the inefficiencies of multiple bag usage.

Implementation Method 1

the paper material could be resistant to fatty substances, or it could be an anti-grease paper

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

at least a first layer of biodegradable paper material and at least a second layer, of transparent polymeric material... the polymeric material consists of poly-lactic acid which is compostable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP3615444B1Envelope or bag
Publication Date: 2023.01.25 SACMA SPA
  • EP3615444B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3615444B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A food envelope or bag (1) comprising an envelope wall (2) extending around a prevailing extension axis (X) to delimit an inner compartment (4), such a compartment (4) being delimited on one axial end (2') by an envelope bottom (8) and being accessible on the opposite end (2") by means of an access opening (6). The envelope (1) further comprises a lifting handle (10) of the envelope (1) having at least a pair of foot portions (12, 14) divided by a first scoring or creasing line (16) so that such a handle (10) is foldable, a first foot portion (12) being affixed to a first outer surface (18) of the envelope wall (2), a second foot portion (14) being free, rotatable around the first foot portion (12) and joinable to an opposite, second outer surface (20) of said wall (2) through a geometrical coupling and/or force coupling with the latter.