Inner Stiffener Stepped Region for Smoking Article Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for smoking articles, such as cigarettes, make it difficult to withdraw a first or final article due to tight packing, as the inner liner and stiffener design do not facilitate easy access.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring an inner stiffener with a stepped region on its bottom panel, which raises at least one smoking article partially through the access opening, allowing easier retrieval by creating a ledge for the protruding end of the article.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inner liner is tightly sealed around the smoking articles to improve barrier properties and maintain bundle shape, then the barrier properties and shape stability are improved, but it becomes difficult to withdraw the first or final article from the package
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom panel of the inner stiffener is segmented into a first region and a second region with different heights, creating a stepped structure. This segmentation allows the final article to be partially supported by the higher first region, raising it relative to other articles and enabling easier access through the access opening while maintaining the overall tight sealing of the inner liner.
2Strength
If a traditional flat bottom panel stiffener is used to protect smoking articles during folding and heat sealing, then the protection and shape maintenance are adequate, but it does not facilitate easy access to the first or final article
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom panel of the inner stiffener has different regions with different heights - a first region and a second region. The first region provides elevated support specifically for the final article to improve accessibility, while the second region maintains the overall structural integrity and protection function. This local differentiation allows the stiffener to serve dual purposes: protection and ease of access.
3Ease of manufacture
If the inner stiffener is designed only for protective function during production, then the manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the container lacks features to aid article removal
Solution Approach 1:
The inner stiffener is designed with multi-functionality: it provides protective support during folding and heat sealing, maintains the shape of the inner bundle, and additionally facilitates easy access to the final article through the stepped bottom panel structure. The different height regions of the bottom panel enable the stiffener to serve both protective and accessibility functions without requiring separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A container 10 for smoking articles 30 having an outer housing comprising a box 12 and a lid 14 hingedly attached to the box, an inner liner 20 disposed within the outer housing, the inner liner defining an interior volume for the smoking articles, the inner liner being sealed around the smoking articles and having an access opening 26 with a closure flap. An inner stiffener 50 having at least side walls 58 hingedly connected to a main panel for at least partially surrounding the smoking articles is provided within the inner liner, the main panel being hingedly connected to a bottom panel 54 that includes a stepped region 60 for receiving at least part of a smoking article provided in line with the access opening 26.