Packaging Container Hinge with Radial Gripping Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food container designs fail to provide easy and efficient indication of first opening while maintaining secure closure and resealability, often requiring inconvenient handling and excessive effort to separate the lid from the container.
Innovation Solution
A secure closure system featuring a hinge mechanism with radially projecting lugs, creases, and knurled zones that allow for easy manual tearing, providing a comfortable gripping surface and minimal effort required for opening, while maintaining secure locking and resealability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the hinge is designed with a tearing zone close to container walls (as in US patent 2010/01022074), then the secure closure is maintained, but the handling becomes difficult and excessive effort is required to separate the lid
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is repositioned from a vertical orientation close to container walls to a horizontal orientation extending radially outward from the container periphery. This dimensional change moves the tearing operation away from the container walls, providing clear access for finger gripping while maintaining the secure closure function through the same interlocking profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge includes pre-formed gripping regions with surface features (such as knurled or ribbed surfaces) that are prepared in advance to facilitate finger placement and force application. The weakening line is also pre-positioned to guide the tearing action, reducing the effort required during the actual opening operation.
2Strength
If the hinge is positioned vertically close to container walls (as in EP 1 651 532), then the secure closure is achieved, but the separation operation becomes inconvenient and requires excessive effort
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge transitions from a vertical configuration to a horizontal configuration that extends radially outward from the container periphery. This repositioning provides adequate clearance from container walls, allowing users to comfortably grip and tear the hinge without obstruction, while the secure closure is maintained through the interlocking first and second profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the secure closure requirement and the ease of opening requirement. By extending horizontally with gripping regions, it provides a mechanical leverage point that amplifies user force, making the separation operation convenient while the interlocking profiles maintain secure closure when closed.
3Ease of operation
If the hinge extends horizontally with gripping regions (as in the present invention), then the handling ease is maximized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is segmented into distinct functional regions: a first leg connected to the container, a second leg connected to the lid, and intermediate gripping regions with surface features. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function (structural support, force application, gripping) while keeping the overall design relatively simple and manufacturable.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a packaging container comprising a container (1) and an attached lid (2), said container (1) having a peripheral wall having at an opening a first peripheral profile delimiting said opening and closable by the lid (2), said lid (2) having a second peripheral profile, said first and second profiles fitting into each other and together constituting secure mutual fastening means, the first and second profiles extending over the periphery respectively of the container (1) and the lid (2) except over at least one peripheral sector, the container (1) and the lid (2) being of a single piece and connected at each peripheral sector by hinge means (3) comprising two tabs (31, 32) extending radially outwards from the peripheral profiles respectively of the container (1) and the lid (2),parallel to the plane of separation of the container (1) and the lid (2) in closed position and connected to each other at their free end by at least one groove (33, 34) forming a hinge fold, said hinge means being provided with at least one line of weakening allowing the separation, by manual tearing of the hinge means (3) at the level of at least said line, of the container (1) and the lid (2). The container is characterized in that said hinge means (3) have on each leg (31, 32) a gripping region (4, 4') for the fingers, said gripping regions (4, 4') being located opposite each other and, for each leg (31, 32) provided with a weakening line, between the weakening line and a groove (33, 34) forming an articulation fold, the weakening line comprising at least a portion coinciding with a groove (33, 34) forming an articulation fold.