Pourable Package Weakening Lines for Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packages for pourable food products do not adequately improve the gripping and tactile experience for users, despite providing excellent results in other aspects.

Innovation Solution

The package design incorporates a multilayer structure with specific weakening lines (20 and 21) in the packaging blank, which allows the side wall to be folded along weakening lines 20 for shape definition, while weakening lines 21 improve gripping and tactile experience by not being folded during package formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the packaging blank is provided with crease lines to define package shape, then the package formation is facilitated and shape is defined, but the gripping and tactile experience for users is not adequately improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackage formationVSAvoidgripping and tactile experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The side wall is divided into multiple panels (front panel, back panel, lateral panels, corner panels) separated by crease lines and weakening lines. This segmentation allows the package to be easily formed during manufacturing while also providing distinct gripping zones for users, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the side wall are given different properties through the strategic placement of crease lines and weakening lines. The corner panels and lateral panels have specific weakening lines that enhance gripability in those local areas, while maintaining the overall structural integrity needed for easy manufacturing. This local differentiation improves tactile experience without compromising formation ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If weakening lines are added to improve gripping and tactile experience, then user interaction is enhanced, but the package structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegripping and tactile experienceVSAvoidpackaging blank structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The weakening lines are integrated into the existing crease line pattern of the packaging blank. Rather than adding separate gripping features, the weakening lines are combined with the fold lines to define panel boundaries and corner regions. This merging approach enhances gripping capability while minimizing the increase in structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The crease lines serve dual functions: they facilitate package formation during manufacturing and simultaneously define gripping zones for users. The weakening lines integrated into these crease lines provide both structural guidance for folding and enhanced tactile feedback for gripping, making the package structure multi-functional and reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 improved package design enhances user gripping and tactile experience, while maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of the package, thereby addressing the need for improved user interaction with pourable food products.

Implementation Method 1

the packaging blanks are provided with a plurality of crease lines

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFolding: Folding

Implementation Method 2

The packaging blank has a multilayer structure comprising a fibrous base layer, e.g. of paper or cardboard, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLamination: Lamination

Data Source

PatentEP4506272A1Package filled with a pourable product and method for forming a package
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
  • EP4506272A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4506272A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4506272A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

There is described a package (1, 1', 1", 1‴, 1ʺʺ, 1ʺ‴) filled with a pourable product. The package (1, 1', 1", 1‴, 1ʺʺ, 1ʺ‴) comprises a bottom wall (3) and a top wall (4) spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis (A) of the package (1, 1', 1", 1‴, 1ʺʺ, 1ʺ‴) and a side wall (5) interposed between the top wall (3) and the bottom wall (4). The side wall (5) comprises a first group of first weakening lines (20) and a second group of second weakening lines (21). The side wall (5) is folded along the first weakening lines (20) and the side wall (5) is not folded along the second weakening lines (21) .