Heated Cigarette Pack With Sliding Drawer And Bottom Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrically heated cigarettes packs have a significantly different height compared to traditional cigarette packs, leading to negative consumer perception and usability issues, as they are not easily accommodated by existing packaging designs.
Innovation Solution
A pack design featuring a container with a top chamber for electrically heated cigarettes and a bottom chamber with a sliding drawer, a limit stop device, and sealed semi-wraps to maintain freshness, allowing the pack to resemble traditional cigarette packs in size and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the pack height is reduced to accommodate shorter electrically heated cigarettes, then the pack can fit the products, but consumer perception deteriorates due to significant height difference from traditional packs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sliding drawer mechanism that moves horizontally along the front wall, transforming the vertical height issue into a horizontal accessibility solution. The drawer allows users to access cigarettes without requiring the entire pack to be tall, maintaining traditional pack height appearance while accommodating shorter cigarettes through the sliding mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The pack is divided into two functional zones: an upper chamber for storing electrically heated cigarettes and a lower drawer for accessing them. This segmentation allows the main pack body to maintain traditional height for consumer familiarity, while the segmented drawer provides practical access to the shorter cigarettes stored above.
2Length of stationary object
If a double bottom with empty bottom chamber is used to maintain traditional pack height, then the pack resembles traditional packs, but the empty space is perceived as useless bulk
Solution Approach 1:
The lower drawer is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides access to cigarettes stored in the upper chamber, collects discarded cigarette butts, and can be pulled out for convenient disposal. This multi-functionality eliminates the perception of useless bulk by making the previously empty space actively useful for waste collection and access.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawer is specifically designed to collect and contain discarded cigarette butts, transforming the previously wasted space into a functional waste collection area. Users can easily retrieve and dispose of used cigarettes from the drawer, giving purpose to the bottom chamber space.
3Ease of operation
If a sliding drawer is added to provide access to cigarettes, then usability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer incorporates a self-contained ash collection area with a removable bottom portion. Used cigarettes fall into the drawer and accumulate in the designated area, allowing users to simply pull out the drawer and dispose of waste without needing additional mechanisms for ash collection or cigarette management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the cigarette access function, waste collection function, and disposal function into a single integrated drawer mechanism. By merging these functions into one component, the overall structural complexity is reduced compared to having separate mechanisms for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a pack of electrically heated cigarettes, which comprises a container and a lid hinged one another; wherein the container comprises a top chamber which houses a group of cigarettes, a bottom chamber and a dividing wall, which divides the top chamber from the bottom chamber; and wherein a drawer is provided, which is arranged in the area of the bottom chamber and can slide between a closed position, in which the drawer is completely arranged inside the container and an open position, limited by a limit stop device, in which the drawer is partially pulled out of the container; the distance between the dividing wall and the top wall of the lid when the latter closes the top opening of the container, being between 4.5 and 5.5 centimetres; and the distance between the bottom wall of the drawer, when the latter is in the relative closed position, and the dividing wall being between 3.5 centimetres and 4.5 centimetres.