Integral Connector for Hinged Smoking Pack Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container designs for smoking articles with a Jacob's ladder arrangement require multiple separate blanks and complex manufacturing processes, making them cumbersome and difficult to assemble.
Innovation Solution
A container comprising two hingedly connected packs, where each pack has an integral connector formed from a single piece of material, allowing for a simpler manufacturing process by reducing the number of required blanks and enabling easy assembly in a Jacob's ladder configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate joining blanks or separate Jacobs Ladder structures are used to connect packs, then the connection functionality is achieved, but the manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is merged with the pack structure to form an integral connector that is formed from the same blank as the pack itself. This eliminates the need for separate joining blanks or separate Jacobs Ladder structures, reducing the number of discrete components while maintaining the connection functionality between packs in a Jacob's ladder arrangement.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate blanks are used for connectors, then the connection structure is achieved, but the assembly process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The connector and pack are combined into a single integral structure formed from one blank, eliminating the need for separate assembly of connector components. This reduces the number of assembly steps and makes the overall assembly process less cumbersome while maintaining the Jacob's ladder connection arrangement.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
A container for smoking articles comprises at least two packs (2, 5) hingedly connected in a Jacob's ladder arrangement, each for housing a separate bundle of smoking articles. In an initial position, the container comprises: a first pack (2) having a first wall (11, 51) with opposed first and second edges and an integral connector (17, 57) extending across the first wall (11, 51) and a second pack (5) having a first wall (31, 71) with opposed first and second edges and an integral connector (37, 77) extending across the first wall (31, 71). The integral connector (17, 57) of the first pack (2) comprises a first section (18, 58) hinged about the first edge of the first wall (11, 51) of the first pack (2) and a second section (19, 59) hinged about the second edge of the first wall (11, 51) of the first pack (2). The integral connector (37, 77) of the second pack (5) comprises a first section (38, 78) hinged about the second edge of the first wall (31, 71) of the second pack (5) and a second section (39, 79) hinged about the first edge of the first wall (31, 71) of the second pack (5). The first section (18, 58) of the integral connector (17, 57) of the first pack (2) is affixed to the first section (38, 78) of the integral connector (37, 77) of the second pack and the second section (19, 59) of the integral connector (17, 57) of the first pack is affixed to the second section (38, 78) of the integral connector (37, 77) of the second pack so that the first edges of the first walls (11, 51, 31, 71) of the first (2) and second (5) packs are adjacent and the second edges of the first walls (11, 51, 31, 71) of the first (2) and second (5) packs are adjacent.