Hinged Smoking Package With Foldable Flap For Automatic Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cigarette packages require manual interaction to access smoking articles and lack additional space for other items like smartcards, making them inconvenient for automatic access and storage.

Innovation Solution

A package design featuring two hingedly connected receptacles with a foldable flap that automatically opens when the lid is swiveled, providing a compartment for additional items and allowing partial access to smoking articles without fully opening the package.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the package uses a traditional hinged lid design, then the structure is simple, but manual interaction is required to access smoking articles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic access to smoking articlesVSAvoidpackage structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The package employs a dynamic foldable flap mechanism that transitions from a static closed position to an automatically opened position when the lid is removed. The flap's resilient nature allows it to dynamically adjust its position, providing automatic access to the second receptacle without requiring manual intervention, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The foldable flap is designed to automatically open the second receptacle when the lid is removed, enabling self-service access to smoking articles. The resilient force mechanism allows the flap to perform the opening action autonomously, eliminating the need for manual interaction and improving ease of operation while maintaining a relatively simple structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the package contains only two receptacles for smoking articles, then the structure is simple, but additional space for storing other items like smartcards is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage space for additional itemsVSAvoidpackage structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The package is segmented into three distinct functional areas: a first receptacle for smoking articles, a second receptacle accessible via the foldable flap, and a third receptacle formed by the foldable flap structure itself for storing additional items like smartcards. This segmentation allows the package to provide versatile storage options while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The foldable flap serves multiple functions: it acts as a closure for the second receptacle, provides structural support for the third receptacle, and enables automatic opening access. This multi-functionality increases the package's adaptability for storing various items while avoiding the need for additional separate components, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and structural complexity.

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

3Ease of operation

If the foldable flap provides resilient force to automatically open the package, then automatic access is improved, but manual effort is required to overcome the resilient force to fully open the compartment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic opening of packageVSAvoidmanual effort to overcome resilient force
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The foldable flap's resilient force is designed to provide partial automatic opening action, sufficient to expose the second receptacle for access to smoking articles. The force is calibrated to achieve the necessary opening without requiring excessive manual effort, balancing automatic operation with user-controlled full opening when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 package offers easy, automatic access to smoking articles and additional storage space for items like smartcards, with a resilient force mechanism that maintains security by requiring manual effort to fully open the compartment.

Implementation Method 1

The first and the second receptacle are coupled at their longitudinal sides by a foldable flap configured to (resiliently) swivel the second receptacle away from the first receptacle when the lid is open.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResilient force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2681130B1Package for smoking articles
Publication Date: 2015.01.07 IMPERIAL TOBACCO LTD
  • EP2681130B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2681130B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2681130B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a package (1) for smoking articles comprising a first receptacle (100) for smoking articles and second receptacle (200) for smoking articles and a lid (300) for closing the first and the second receptacle from the top side hingedly connected to the second receptacle. The first and the second receptacle are hingedly coupled at a bottom side. The first and the second receptacle are coupled at a longitudinal side by a first and a second foldable flap (402, 403) configured to swivel the second receptacle away from the first receptacle when the lid is open.