Cigarette Pack Inner Frame with Folded Compensating Panel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cigarette packs face challenges when the diameter of cigarettes decreases, requiring new container dimensions, leading to high costs and potential production failures, as existing inner frames fail to securely hold cigarettes with reduced diameters without significant redesign.

Innovation Solution

An inner frame with compensating panels that fold 180° to increase thickness, maintaining the outer housing dimensions and securely holding cigarettes, while allowing adjustment for diameter changes without visible alterations, thus reducing costs and production efforts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the cigarette diameter is reduced, then the packaging can accommodate more cigarettes or improve fit, but the existing inner frame cannot securely hold the cigarettes and requires complete redesign

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecigarette fit within packageVSAvoidinner frame redesign
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inner frame incorporates flexible elements that can dynamically adapt to diameter changes. The frame includes expandable or adjustable components that can flex to accommodate varying cigarette diameters without requiring complete redesign, allowing the same frame structure to secure cigarettes of different sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The inner frame design allows for parameter changes in its structural dimensions. By incorporating adjustable or flexible elements, the frame can modify its effective internal dimensions to match reduced cigarette diameters, maintaining secure fit without complete structural replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If a totally new dimensioned container is created to accommodate reduced cigarette diameter, then the cigarettes are securely held, but the costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecigarette securingVSAvoidpackaging production cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The inner frame uses dynamic, adjustable elements that can adapt to diameter reductions, eliminating the need for completely new container dimensions. This flexibility allows the same outer housing to accommodate cigarettes of varying diameters without costly redesign and production of new packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The inner frame is designed with multi-functional capabilities to accommodate different cigarette diameters within the same outer housing. This universal design allows the packaging to serve multiple purposes for different cigarette sizes without requiring separate container designs, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If the outer housing dimensions are maintained, then production costs and packaging setup are reduced, but the reduced cigarette diameter cannot be securely held

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging production costVSAvoidcigarette fit
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The inner frame incorporates flexible and adjustable elements that can dynamically adapt to reduced cigarette diameters while maintaining the outer housing dimensions. This allows the packaging to keep its original size for cost efficiency while the inner frame flexes to securely hold smaller cigarettes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging is segmented into two functional parts: the outer housing that maintains its original dimensions for cost efficiency, and the inner frame that can adapt its dimensions to secure cigarettes of varying sizes. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Manufacturing precision

If compensating panels are added to the inner frame, then the frame thickness increases and securely holds cigarettes with reduced diameters, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecigarette diameter compensationVSAvoidinner frame structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compensating panels are added only at specific locations on the inner frame where additional thickness is needed to accommodate reduced cigarette diameters. Rather than making the entire frame thicker or more complex, the panels are strategically placed at critical areas to provide localized compensation for diameter changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The compensating panels extend the inner frame into an additional dimensional space, creating a thicker effective structure at critical points. This dimensional extension allows the frame to accommodate diameter reductions without increasing the overall complexity of the entire frame structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3909882B1Inner frame for a cigarette pack
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 JT INTERNATIONAL SA
  • EP3909882B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3909882B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3909882B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Inner frame 1 for a cigarette pack 100, comprising a front panel 10, a first 20 and a second side panel 30, wherein the side panels 20, 30 are directly attached to front panel side edges 12, 14 via bending lines 40, 42, and a first compensating panel 50 directly attached to a side edge 22 of the first side panel 20 via a first folding line 52, wherein the first compensating panel 50 is folded by 180° with respect to the first side panel 20 around the first folding line 52, and an upper edge 51 of the first compensating panel 50 is lower than an upper edge 21 of the first side panel 20.