Hinged Transparent Box Stiffened by Inner U-Band
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional packaging solutions for food products, such as pastries, are not suitable for modern distribution methods as they lack the ability to provide an additional presentation function and are not self-supporting, requiring assembly of separate parts which reduces mechanical strength and rigidity.
Innovation Solution
A parallelepiped-shaped box with a hinged design featuring a U-shaped band for stiffening, where the band is placed inside the body for easy closure, and the body and lid are thermoformed from a single plastic sheet with a cardboard band for added strength and aesthetic appeal, eliminating the need for separate parts and enhancing rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the box is made from separate parts (bottom, lid, side walls) with recesses and bosses for assembly, then the box can be easily assembled and disassembled, but the mechanical strength and rigidity are reduced due to the presence of recesses, orifices, and windows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bottom, side walls, and lid into a single thermoformed plastic piece, eliminating the need for separate parts and assembly operations. This monolithic structure removes recesses and orifices that would compromise structural integrity, thereby maintaining full mechanical strength while still allowing for easy opening and closing through the hinge mechanism.
2Strength
If the box is made as a single piece from transparent plastic material, then the mechanical strength is maintained, but the ease of manufacture and design variability are limited compared to modular designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes thermoforming technology to transform a flat plastic sheet into a three-dimensional box structure with integrated features. By controlling thermal and mechanical parameters during forming, the process achieves both structural integrity and design flexibility, allowing for various geometries, hinge configurations, and aesthetic variations while maintaining strength.
3Adaptability or versatility
If recesses, orifices, and windows are added to the box structure for assembly and presentation, then the presentation function and assembly capability are improved, but the rigidity of the box is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the functionality by integrating presentation features (such as windows or openings) directly into the thermoformed structure rather than creating separate recesses. The hinge mechanism is also integrated into the monolithic structure, allowing the lid to be opened and closed without compromising the overall rigidity of the box body.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used to form the box, then design variability and aesthetic customization are enhanced, but the device complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single-piece thermoformed box structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the container body, integrates the hinge mechanism, incorporates presentation features, and maintains structural strength. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple separate components while preserving design versatility through variations in the thermoforming process.
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The box has a body (1) at which a cover (2) is articulated along a common edge (3) forming a hinge, where the body and the cover have a homologous reversed shape. The body has a rectangular shape rear side (7) and triangular lateral sides. The cover has a side (4) and lateral sides (5, 6). The hinge is constituted by the edge at the rear side and at a flat bottom of the cover. A band (10) has a central face (11) and lateral faces (12, 13) arranged in U-form parallel to the sides of the cover including the hinge placed inside the body.