Perforated Day Tabs for Opening Date Tracking

Solution Overview

Problem

Paperboard-style containers for perishable liquids and dairy products lack a clear indication of the day they were first opened, making it difficult for users to determine when the recommended consumption period has expired, as they rely on a 'use-by' date that may be farther in the future.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a day of opening reminder system with seven perforated tabs, each representing a day of the week, which can be manually marked to indicate the day the container was opened, allowing users to track the consumption period accurately.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If a use-by date is imprinted on the container, then the product shelf life is extended, but the user cannot determine when the container was first opened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct shelf lifeVSAvoidopening date information

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The container includes seven separate tabs, each representing a different day of the week. This segmentation allows the user to mark the specific day the container was opened, providing clear opening date information while maintaining the overall shelf life structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tabs are pre-configured with day identifiers (Sunday through Saturday) before the container is used. The user simply needs to fold down the appropriate tab on the day of opening, eliminating the need to calculate or remember the opening date.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the container includes day tracking tabs, then the user can determine when to stop using the product, but the container structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking consumption periodVSAvoidcontainer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container includes seven separate tabs, each representing a different day of the week. This segmentation allows the user to mark the specific day the container was opened, providing clear opening date information while maintaining the overall shelf life structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tabs serve multiple functions: they act as structural elements of the container, provide day-of-week identification, and function as a trackable indicator system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate tracking devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If perforated tabs are added to indicate opening day, then user awareness of consumption timeframe is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumption period trackingVSAvoidcontainer production

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The container includes seven separate tabs, each representing a different day of the week. This segmentation allows the user to mark the specific day the container was opened, providing clear opening date information while maintaining the overall shelf life structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tabs incorporate perforations that change the physical state of the tab from intact to separated, providing a clear visual indicator of which day the container was opened. This simple parameter change (intact vs. perforated) reliably tracks the opening date.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9284091B2Day of opening reminder for a container

Publication Date: 2016.03.15 SHALKOP DAVID LAWRENCE

AI summary

A container (100 and 600) has a sealed top formed from adhered sealing panels at a top of the container that keeps contents of the container sealed until ready for use. A top of the container is provided with a day of opening reminder (131 and 631). The day of opening reminder includes tabs (163, 563 and 663) made of a same material as the container. Each tab includes a different symbol that corresponds to a name of a day of the week. The day of opening reminder includes perforations (134 and 634) or cuts between each tab thereby allowing one of the tabs to be moved into a different position relative to the other tabs, thereby conveying information about the day of week that the container was first opened.