Paper Cup Overlap Seam Integrity via Indentation Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing paper cups with circumferential stacking shoulders are prone to leaks and material deformation at the overlap area, leading to uneven stacking and perceived inferior quality.

Innovation Solution

A paper cup design that omits the indentation at the overlap area, allowing for a seamless connection of the conical shell and base while maintaining excellent stacking properties through a circumferential indentation that extends over the entire circumference except at the overlap, and is curved or bent to reduce material stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a circumferential stacking shoulder indentation is formed in the paper cup, then stacking properties are improved, but leaks and material deformation occur at the overlap area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestacking propertiesVSAvoidseam integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the indentation from the overlap area specifically, while maintaining it in the rest of the circumferential direction. This extraction of the problematic element (indentation at overlap) eliminates the source of deformation and leakage while preserving the stacking function in non-overlap areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different structural characteristics to different areas of the cup: the overlap area maintains original material continuity without indentation, while the non-overlap areas feature circumferential indentations for stacking. This local differentiation optimizes both seam integrity and stacking properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If a circumferential stacking shoulder indentation is formed in the paper cup, then stacking properties are improved, but the cup shape becomes uneven and deformed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestacking propertiesVSAvoidcup uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the indentation from the overlap area specifically, while maintaining it in the rest of the circumferential direction. This extraction of the problematic element (indentation at overlap) eliminates the source of deformation and leakage while preserving the stacking function in non-overlap areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different structural characteristics to different areas of the cup: the overlap area maintains original material continuity without indentation, while the non-overlap areas feature circumferential indentations for stacking. This local differentiation optimizes both seam integrity and stacking properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the indentation is extended to cover the entire circumference including overlap area, then stacking properties are maximized, but material stress and deformation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestacking propertiesVSAvoidmaterial stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the indentation from the overlap area specifically, while maintaining it in the rest of the circumferential direction. This extraction of the problematic element (indentation at overlap) eliminates the source of deformation and leakage while preserving the stacking function in non-overlap areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different structural characteristics to different areas of the cup: the overlap area maintains original material continuity without indentation, while the non-overlap areas feature circumferential indentations for stacking. This local differentiation optimizes both seam integrity and stacking properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2540636B1Container made of a paper material and device for producing a container made of a paper material
Publication Date: 2016.10.12 PTM PACKAGING TOOLS MACHINERY PTE
  • EP2540636B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2540636B1 patent drawingFigure 4~9
  • EP2540636B1 patent drawingFigure 11~12

AI summary

The invention relates to a cup made of paper material with a fillable interior, which is formed by means of a shell (12) that is at least partially conical and a bottom (16), wherein the bottom is substantially liquid-tight connected to the shell in the region of the lower end of the interior, wherein the shell (12) is formed from a flat blank, the end faces of which are connected to each other in the region of an overlap (20), and wherein the shell (12) that delimits the interior has at least one circumferentially extending indentation (18), in which the indentation (18) is not formed in the region of the overlap (20).