Rigid Package Hinged Lid Connection Tab Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rigid cigarette packages with hinged lids face difficulties in extracting cigarettes, especially with smaller quantities or slim cigarettes, due to complex handling and potential crushing issues caused by existing lifting mechanisms that require high force and elastic deformation.

Innovation Solution

A rigid package design featuring a sliding inner container within a cup-shaped outer container, where the lid is hinged and connected by a connection tab that allows automatic longitudinal movement of the inner container between lowered and extracted positions without elastic deformation, facilitating easy opening and closing without mechanical stress on the cigarettes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a lifting device is provided in the rigid cigarette package, then the extraction of cigarettes is facilitated, but the lid requires high force to rotate due to elastic deformation of the lifting device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction of cigarettesVSAvoidforce to rotate lid
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element (the lifting device with elastic portion) that mediates between the lid and the cigarettes. This elastic portion acts as a buffer that can deform to allow lid rotation while still providing the lifting function, thus resolving the contradiction between facilitating cigarette extraction and requiring high force to rotate the lid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the lifting device by making part of it elastic rather than rigid. This parameter change allows the lifting device to deform under load, enabling lid rotation with reduced force while maintaining the automatic lifting function during opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a lifting device is provided in the rigid cigarette package, then the extraction of cigarettes is facilitated, but the cigarettes may be crushed due to elastic deformation pushing on them

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction of cigarettesVSAvoidcrushing of cigarettes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting device serves as an intermediary that carefully manages the force transmission between the lid and cigarettes. The elastic portion controls the deformation to provide lifting without excessive force that would crush the cigarettes, acting as a buffer that protects the cigarettes while enabling automatic extraction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic portion of the lifting device provides beforehand cushioning by being pre-configured to deform in a controlled manner. This cushioning effect prevents sudden or excessive forces from being applied to the cigarettes during lid rotation, thus protecting them from crushing while still enabling the lifting function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of operation

If a flexible lifting device is used, then the handling of lid is easier, but the group of cigarettes is not automatically lowered when lid is closed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling of lidVSAvoidautomatic lowering of cigarettes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the lifting device partially flexible rather than completely rigid. This dynamic characteristic allows the device to deform during lid rotation (improving handling) while still maintaining enough structural integrity to push the cigarettes down automatically when the lid closes, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of handling and automatic operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3328756B1Rigid package with a hinged lid and with an inner container connected to the front wall of the lid
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 GD SPA
  • EP3328756B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3328756B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3328756B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A rigid package (1) for tobacco articles with a hinged lid having: a group (2) of tobacco articles; an inner container (3) which houses the group (2) of tobacco articles; an outer container (4) which houses the inner container (3) in a movable manner, so as to allow the inner container (3) to move relative to the outer container (4); a hinged lid (9); and a moving mechanism, which moves the inner container (3) relative to the outer container (4) using the rotation movement of the lid (9) and has a rigid connection tab (19), which connects a wall (17) of the inner container (3) to a wall (12) of the lid (9).