Gusseted Flexible Package with Concave Seal Lines for One-Handed Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side-gusseted flexible packages are difficult to handle with one hand due to their height, which exceeds retail height restrictions, making them cumbersome for consumers.
Innovation Solution
The method involves forming a tubular package with gusseted sides and specific seal lines that allow for easier grasping, including concave intermediate edge portions closer to the central axis than end edge portions, reducing the overall height while maintaining volume, and using flexible materials like polyethylene or polyester to create a package that can be easily formed and sealed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the package height is increased to maximize content volume, then the package can hold more contents, but the package becomes difficult to handle with one hand and exceeds retail height restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a conventional rectangular prism shape to a dodecahedral shape with angled sides. This geometric transformation redistributes the package volume across different spatial dimensions, allowing the package to maintain maximum content volume while reducing the vertical height dimension to comply with retail restrictions and improve one-handed handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the package by defining specific angle ranges for the side panels (30-60 degrees from vertical) and establishing height-to-width ratio constraints (0.5-1.5). These parameter modifications enable the package to achieve optimal balance between content volume, height restrictions, and handling ease through mathematical optimization of the dodecahedral geometry.
2Length of stationary object
If the package width and depth are increased to maintain volume within height restrictions, then the package adheres to retail height restrictions, but the package shape becomes less efficient for one-handed grasping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature principles through the dodecahedral shape with angled side panels that create a more ergonomic form factor. The angled sides (30-60 degrees from vertical) provide natural hand engagement surfaces that facilitate one-handed grasping, transforming the rigid rectangular geometry into a more human-friendly curved-like form that is easier to hold securely.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional seal lines are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the package does not provide optimized grasping geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the optimized dodecahedral geometry and seal line configurations in the package design stage. The seal lines are strategically positioned to create the angled side panels with specific angle ranges (30-60 degrees from vertical) before manufacturing, ensuring that the grasping-optimized shape is built-in from the outset rather than requiring post-manufacturing adjustments or complex assembly steps.
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 enables simple one-handed grasping and handling of the package while adhering to retail height restrictions, providing a balance between ease of use and content volume.
Implementation Method 1
forming a web of flexible material into a tubular member having a central longitudinal axis and a plurality of sequentially located sections extending along the central longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 2
Portions of the front panel are sealed to portions of the gusseted side panels along respective front panel seal lines at the front panel side edges
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible side-gusseted package and methods of making the same are disclosed. The package has a central longitudinal axis, a front panel, a back panel, and a pair of gusseted side panels. The front panel is secured to the gusseted side panels along a pair of side seal lines. The back panel is secured to the gusseted side panels along a pair of side seal lines. Each of the seal lines includes a pair of end portions and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion, e.g., a concave recessed portion, of each side seal line is located closer to the central longitudinal axis than the end portions of the side seal lines to provide a package which is somewhat necked-down at its middle, to facilitate grasping of the package by users.