Paper-board Packaging with Vertical Flaps for Plastic Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging for liquids and food products heavily relies on thermoshrinking plastic materials and stretch materials, which are environmentally polluting, non-biodegradable, and inefficient in reducing plastic usage.

Innovation Solution

A packaging system that utilizes a sheet-like support made from a stiffened paper-board blank, folded to form a support base and vertical flaps, without plastic wrapping, and incorporates a handleable band for secure transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If thermoshrinking plastic material or stretch material is used for wrapping containers, then the packaging provides structural protection and ease of handling, but it causes environmental pollution and is non-biodegradable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural protectionVSAvoidenvironmental pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the plastic wrapping layer entirely from the packaging system. Instead of using thermoshrinking or stretch materials to wrap containers, the invention uses a sheet-like support structure with vertical flaps that provide protection without requiring plastic envelopes, thereby eliminating the harmful environmental factors associated with plastic pollution while maintaining structural functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from plastic/thermoshrinking materials to paper-board material. This material substitution maintains the protective function while improving biodegradability and reducing environmental harm, as paper-board is naturally biodegradable and can be composted unlike synthetic plastic materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If plastic materials are used for packaging, then the packaging provides durability and protection, but the recovery process is polluting and reduces biodegradability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging durabilityVSAvoidpolluting recovery process
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable paper-board packaging structure that is designed to be discarded after use rather than recovered. The sheet-like support with vertical flaps provides sufficient protection during use and can be easily disposed of in a biodegradable manner, eliminating the need for complex recovery processes that would otherwise be required for plastic materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a sheet-like support made from paper-board blank is used instead of plastic material, then biodegradability and environmental friendliness are improved, but the structural strength and protection may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebiodegradabilityVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the support structure into multiple functional segments: a sheet-like support base and separate vertical flaps. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the base provides structural support while the flaps provide protective wrapping - achieving both biodegradability and sufficient structural strength through functional division

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite construction by combining paper-board material with adhesive elements and structural folding. The sheet-like support is formed by folding the paper-board blank into specific geometries with vertical flaps that extend upward, creating a composite structure that leverages the strength of the folded paper-board configuration to provide adequate protection while maintaining biodegradability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of manufacture

If traditional plastic packaging is used, then ease of manufacture and production efficiency are maintained, but environmental sustainability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidenvironmental sustainability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates printing of information directly onto the sheet-like support structure during the manufacturing process. This preliminary action of printing on the paper-board blank eliminates the need for separate labeling steps and maintains production efficiency, while the entire paper-board package remains environmentally sustainable and biodegradable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3947184B1Packaging of products
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 OCME OFFICINA COSTR MECEGNICHE EMILIANA
  • EP3947184B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3947184B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3947184B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A packaging (10) of products (100) comprising a sheet-like support (20), a handleable band (30) and products (100) arranged over at least two rows, the sheet-like support (20) is folded to form a support base (21) and two vertical flaps (22), said two vertical flaps (22) are arranged on opposite sides of said support base (21), each vertical flap (22) rests for at least a portion against a vertical surface (101) of each of said products (100) arranged along the respective of said at least two rows, said handleable band (30) comprises an arched portion (33) and two ends (31, 32) respectively engaged with opposite sides of said sheet-like support (20) wherein there are said two vertical flaps (22).