Inner Collar Locking Tab for Child-Resistant Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inner collars and packaging for rod-shaped goods, such as cigarettes, lack adequate locking mechanisms, making them easily openable, particularly by children.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a locking tab on the front wall of the inner collar that engages with the lid structure, requiring lateral pressure to open, enhancing closure security and allowing for additional design features like color, text, or motifs, and potentially being made from materials like paper, cardboard, or plastic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple packaging structure is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but closure security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging is divided into an outer packaging and an inner collar that can be separately manufactured and then assembled. The locking tab is integrated into the inner collar as a separate functional element, allowing the collar to be produced independently and then inserted into the outer packaging, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The locking tab is pre-formed on the inner collar during its manufacturing process, before the inner collar is inserted into the outer packaging. This preliminary formation of the locking mechanism eliminates the need for complex assembly steps and maintains high closure security without increasing manufacturing complexity
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to improve closure security, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tab is merged with the inner collar as an integrated element, forming a single component that combines both the structural function of the collar and the security function of the locking mechanism. This eliminates the need for separate locking components and reduces overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The locking tab is designed to automatically engage with the outer packaging when the inner collar is inserted, without requiring additional locking actions or complex mechanisms. The collar itself provides the locking function through its own structural elements, simplifying the overall device
3Ease of manufacture
If the locking tab is formed by a cutting line from a bending line, then manufacturing precision is improved and production becomes simpler, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The inner collar is designed with differentiated wall thicknesses and material densities in specific regions. The locking tab area is reinforced with increased material density and optimized wall thickness to maintain structural integrity, while other areas of the collar use standard specifications, allowing simple production methods to be used overall without compromising locking strength
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an inner collar (10) for packaging (32) for storing goods, in particular rod-shaped goods such as cigarettes, tobacco sticks, and the like, comprising a front wall (12), side walls (14, 16) connected to the front wall (12) via bend lines (18, 20), and at least one access and viewing recess (22) in the area of the front wall (12), wherein the front wall (12) includes at least one locking tab (24) for locking to a lid assembly (40) of the packaging (32) when the packaging (32) is closed. The invention also relates to packaging with such an inner collar (10).