Inner Liner Opening Flap Assembly for Consumer Goods
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for consumer goods, such as smoking articles, require complex mechanisms or high costs to achieve automatic opening, and existing solutions do not simplify the opening process effectively.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a housing with a hingedly attached lid and an inner liner with envelope folds, including a front and rear tear-away section and adhesive area, creates an opening flap assembly that allows for easy access to consumer goods without additional machinery or high costs, while maintaining structural integrity and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sealed bundle with automatic opening mechanism is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inner liner is segmented into multiple functional zones: a sealed bundle portion for protection, a tear-away portion with perforation lines for opening, and an envelope fold structure. This segmentation allows the single inner liner to provide both sealing and automatic opening functions without additional complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The tear-away portion is pre-configured with perforation lines and adhesive areas during manufacturing. The envelope fold is pre-formed to enable automatic opening when the lid is opened, eliminating the need for complex opening mechanisms during use.
2Ease of operation
If a sealed bundle with automatic opening mechanism is used, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner liner is divided into functional segments (sealed bundle, tear-away portion, envelope fold) that can be manufactured using standard packaging equipment, avoiding the need for specialized high-cost machinery while achieving automatic opening functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The single inner liner structure serves multiple functions: sealing the bundle, providing automatic opening via the tear-away portion, and maintaining protection through the envelope fold. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components and complex manufacturing processes.
3Ease of operation
If the inner liner is fully opened for access, then ease of operation is improved, but protection of consumer goods deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inner liner is segmented so that only the tear-away portion opens while the sealed bundle portion remains closed. This allows consumer goods to be accessed through the opening in the tear-away portion while the majority of the bundle remains protected and sealed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fully opening the inner liner, only the necessary tear-away portion is opened to provide access. The envelope fold and remaining sealed portions maintain protection, providing sufficient access while preserving protection.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A container comprises a charge of consumer articles that is bundled in an inner liner, wherein the inner liner comprises an opening flap assembly that is comprised of a front tear- away section and a rear tear-in section of the inner liner that overlap in an envelope fold and are attached to each other on top of the inner liner bundle.