Paper Toy Container with Reinforcement and Hinge

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toy containers made of plastic pose a high environmental load due to non-biodegradability, and prior paper-based containers have limited environmental benefits.

Innovation Solution

A toy container made of paper containing a prescribed amount of pulp, featuring hemispherical housing units with reinforcement sections, a linking unit in living hinge form, and locking mechanisms to enhance strength and facilitate easy opening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If plastic is used to make toy containers, then strength and durability are improved, but environmental load increases due to non-biodegradability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer strengthVSAvoidenvironmental load
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to paper containing a prescribed amount of pulp (at least 30% by weight). This material substitution maintains container functionality while improving biodegradability and reducing environmental load, as paper is naturally decomposable unlike plastic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material construction by combining paper with reinforcement sections that may include plastic or other materials. This allows the container to achieve necessary strength through the paper body while using minimal plastic only where structurally required, balancing environmental benefits with mechanical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If paper is used to make toy containers, then environmental friendliness is improved, but strength and structural integrity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental loadVSAvoidcontainer strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality enhancement by adding reinforcement sections at specific locations within the paper container structure. These reinforcement sections are strategically positioned to provide extra strength where needed while maintaining the overall paper-based environmentally friendly construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials by integrating reinforcement sections made of plastic or other strong materials into the paper container structure. This composite approach allows the paper body to provide environmental benefits while the reinforcement sections compensate for paper's inherent weakness, achieving both goals simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If reinforcement sections are added to paper housing units, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing unit strengthVSAvoidcontainer structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the reinforcement sections with the housing units by forming them as integral parts of the paper container structure. The reinforcement sections are combined with the housing units in a unified construction that maintains structural integrity while avoiding separate complex assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the container into housing units with integrated reinforcement sections, allowing the reinforcement to be incorporated as discrete but unified elements. This segmentation enables standardized production of reinforcement sections that can be efficiently integrated into the paper housing units without significantly increasing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If locking mechanisms are added to link housing units, then reliability of closure is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure reliabilityVSAvoidopening ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service locking mechanisms where the housing units automatically lock together when brought into contact, eliminating the need for separate locking operations. The locking action occurs naturally through the interaction of locking projections and locking holes during the closing process, maintaining reliability while requiring minimal user effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical locking systems with simpler paper-based locking mechanisms involving locking projections and locking holes. This substitution maintains reliable closure while reducing mechanical complexity and improving ease of operation through straightforward insertion and locking actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4079651B1Toy container
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 T ARTS COMPANY
  • EP4079651B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4079651B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4079651B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A toy container 1 is for accommodating a toy and is made of paper containing a predetermined amount of pulp. Accordingly, the toy container 1 can be an earth-environment friendly product as compared to conventional plastic products that are not naturally decomposable.