Hinged Catch Packaging for Car Floor Mats

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional packaging for car floor mats is difficult to repack and reuse, leading to unattractive repackaged products and increased production costs due to separate components requiring assembly.

Innovation Solution

A packaging container with a main body and a releasable securing arrangement featuring a hinged catch with a ring member and tooth mechanism, allowing easy disengagement and reengagement for repackaging, integrated with the main body to reduce manufacturing costs and enhance durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional cardboard packaging with staples is used, then manufacturing cost is low, but repackaging is difficult or not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidrepackaging capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging container is divided into separate functional components: a main body, a removable securing arrangement with catch and post members, and a hanging mechanism. This segmentation allows the securing arrangement to be removed and transferred to new packaging, enabling repackaging while keeping the main container simple and cost-effective to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The securing arrangement is designed to be recoverable rather than discarded. After initial packaging, the catch and post members can be removed from the cardboard packaging and reused on new packaging materials, allowing the valuable securing mechanism to be recovered and reused multiple times while the simple cardboard is discarded.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Adaptability or versatility

If durable plastic packaging with releasable securing arrangement is used, then repackaging is easy, but manufacturing cost is high due to separate components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepackaging capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The catch member is integrally formed with the main body of the packaging container, combining two previously separate components into one. This integration eliminates the need for separate assembly steps, reduces part count, and lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining the releasable securing functionality that enables easy repackaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If cardboard packaging with staples is used, then manufacturing cost is low, but packaging damage occurs during separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidpackaging integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The securing arrangement is designed with a preliminary release mechanism where the catch can be easily disengaged from the post member before any damage occurs to the packaging. The hinged connection and engagement member geometry allow for controlled, damage-free separation by simply lifting or rotating the catch away from the post, preventing tearing or deformation of the packaging material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If repackaging is attempted with conventional packaging, then reuse is possible, but product attractiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepackaging capabilityVSAvoidproduct attractiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging system transitions from a static, permanently damaged state to a dynamic, reusable state. The releasable securing arrangement with its hinged catch and removable post members allows the packaging to be repeatedly assembled and disassembled without degradation, maintaining a neat, attractive appearance with each repackaging cycle, unlike conventional packaging that degrades with 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

Enables straightforward repackaging and reuse of car floor mats without damage to the packaging, reducing production costs and maintaining product attractiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a catch supported on the main body by a hinged connection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHinge: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

the ring member may be deformed in the way by applying a squeezing force on opposing sides of the ring member lateral to the elongate axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12017831B2Packaging container for car floor mats

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 CUSTOM ACCESSORIES INC

AI summary

A packaging container for a car floor mat including: a main body; at least one post member extending from the main body for supporting the car floor mat, and a securing arrangement releasably secured to the post member, the car floor mat being retained on the post member when the securing arrangement is secured to the post member, the car floor mat being removable from the packaging container when the securing arrangement is released from the post member, wherein the securing arrangement includes a catch supported on the main body by a hinged connection, the catch including a ring member for encircling the post member when engaging the post member, the ring member having an inwardly directed engagement member for engaging an overbite provided on the post member when the catch is hinged towards and interlocks with the post member.