Pivoting Integral Cutting Tool for Package Opening and Reclosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging solutions for bulk quantities of products like pet food, compost, and cement fail to efficiently re-seal after opening, leading to freshness issues and reduced shelf-life due to difficulties in cutting materials without creasing or bunching.
Innovation Solution
A self-adhesive opening and reclosing device with an integral cutting tool and zip-locking mechanism, featuring a pivotally movable cutting tool that can be deployed and stowed safely, ensuring precise opening and re-closure of containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a cutting blade is used to cut container material, then an opening is created, but the material may bunch up and crease instead of being cleanly cut
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tool is made pivotally movable between a deployed cutting position and a stowed position, allowing dynamic adjustment of the blade angle and position during cutting to prevent material bunching and creasing while maintaining clean cuts
2Adaptability or versatility
If an integral cutting tool is provided on the device, then opening capability is integrated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tool is integrated with the slider mechanism as a single unitary component, combining the opening function with the existing reclosing mechanism to provide versatile functionality without significantly increasing overall device complexity
3Ease of operation
If the cutting tool is always exposed for easy access, then cutting is convenient, but safety is reduced due to exposed blade
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tool is designed to be pivotally movable between an exposed deployed position for cutting and a retracted stowed position for safety, allowing the blade to be exposed only when needed and automatically hidden when not in use to eliminate safety hazards
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the cutting tool is made pivotally movable between deployed and stowed positions, then safety is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tool's pivotal movement mechanism is designed to automatically transition between deployed and stowed positions based on usage, requiring minimal user intervention and maintaining operational simplicity while ensuring safety through automatic blade retraction
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device allows for easy and secure re-closure of containers, preserving product freshness and extending shelf-life by preventing air and contaminant ingress, while minimizing material creasing during cutting.
Implementation Method 1
The coupling means provides for pivotal connection of the integral cutting tool to the slider, such that the integral cutting tool is pivotally moveable
Implementation Method 2
The slider comprises at least one internal catch and at least one portion of the integral cutting tool engages said internal catch for retaining the integral cutting tool in the second stowed position
Data Source
AI summary
An opening and reclosing device for a container, the opening and reclosing device comprising: an affixing means for affixing the opening and reclosing device to a container; an integral cutting tool for creating an opening in the container in a prescribed manner; and a zip-locking mechanism for re-closing the created opening, the zip-locking mechanism comprising a slider, the integral cutting tool comprising: a blade tip at a first end thereof, a thumb tab at a second end thereof; and a coupling means provided between the first and second ends, which coupling means provides for pivotal connection of the integral cutting tool to the slider, such that the integral cutting tool is pivotally moveable between: a first deployed position wherein the blade tip protrudes out of the slider for cutting an opening in a container; and a second stowed position.