Reclosable Box Base Segmentation for Tamper Evidence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reclosable boxes require complex configurations and more than three parts for closure and reclosure, making them difficult to manufacture automatically and use adhesive substances, while also lacking tamper-evident features.

Innovation Solution

A reclosable box design using a single paperboard piece with a bottom wall and two flaps, featuring breakable and reclosure portions with arched break lines and teeth, allowing for closure without adhesives and easy automatic production, while maintaining tamper-evidence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If known reclosable boxes use complex configurations with more than three parts for closure elements, then the box can achieve reclosable functionality and tamper-evident features, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing becomes more difficult and slower

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereclosable functionalityVSAvoidclosure element configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base is segmented into a breakable portion and a reclosure portion through break lines. The breakable portion is separated upon first opening to provide tamper-evident functionality, while the reclosure portion remains to enable subsequent reclosing operations. This segmentation allows the closure element to maintain simple three-part structure while achieving complex functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The break lines are pre-formed in the base during manufacturing, creating predetermined weak points that will break upon first opening. This preliminary preparation ensures that the tamper-evident feature activates automatically during normal opening without requiring additional components or complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If known reclosable boxes use complex configurations with multiple parts, then the box can achieve reclosable functionality, but the manufacturing speed and ease of automatic production decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereclosable functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base structure is modified by introducing break lines that change the structural parameters of the paperboard. These break lines create predetermined weak points with reduced strength, allowing controlled separation upon first opening while maintaining the overall integrity and simple structure of the closure element for efficient manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the bottom wall is designed to break into two parts upon first opening, then the tamper-evident feature is achieved, but the structural integrity and strength of the bottom wall is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetamper-evident featureVSAvoidbottom wall integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The break lines are positioned to create localized weak points in the base structure, concentrating the structural compromise to specific areas. The majority of the base structure, particularly the reclosure portion, maintains full strength and integrity to continue functioning as an effective closure element after the breakable portion is separated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If the box uses a simple three-part closure element configuration, then the ease of manufacture and production speed is improved, but the ability to achieve both closure and reclosure functionality optimally is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure element assemblyVSAvoidclosure and reclosure optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base is designed to perform multiple functions: initial closure, tamper-evident first opening detection, and subsequent reclosing. The breakable portion provides tamper evidence while the reclosure portion maintains closure capability. This multi-functionality is achieved within the simple three-part structure through strategic placement of break lines and design of the flap-blocking member interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3119684B1Reclosable box with base resistant to opening and tamper- evident portion, breakable upon first opening of box

Publication Date: 2017.12.20 GI BI EFFE

Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2

AI summary

A reclosable box, embodied in one paperboard piece (100), with an upper closure element (101A) and a lower closure element (102A) suitable for closing an upper opening (A) and a lower opening of said box, said closure elements being resistant to the opening and with a tamper-evident portion (103), breakable upon the first opening of the box; said box comprising: • - four side walls (1-4), • - an upper bottom wall or base (101) and a lower bottom wall or base (102) projecting from an upper end and from a lower end of one first (4) of said side walls (1-4), • -and two upper flaps and two lower flaps (16, 17); • - said upper and lower bottom walls or bases (101, 102) • - said bottom walls or bases (101, 102) comprising at least one break line (15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) suitable for allowing to at least partially separate said bottom walls or bases (101, 102) in at least one breakable portion (103), and in a box reclosure portion (104), • - said flaps (16, 17) comprising first box blocking and closure means (18, 19, 18B, 19B), • - and wherein said box comprises second blocking means (105) suitable for allowing an at least partial reclosure of the box after its first opening and after said breakable portion (103) is broken, characterized in that • - the upper and lower closure elements of the box consist each of three components only: said bottom wall or base and said two flaps, • said reclosure portion (104, 1104, 2104, 3104) presents a shaped surface suitable for overlapping above the opening (A) of the box to be reclosed, said shaped surface featuring an area smaller than that of said closure panel (10, 210, 310, 410, 1010, 2010, 3010) of the upper and lower bottom walls or bases (101, 102; 301, 302; 401, 402; 501, 502; 1101, 1102; 2101, 2102;,3101, 3012), and said breakable portion (103) comprises at least one part (115A, 115 B) of the closure panel so that said closure portion features a shape suitable for facilitating the reclosure of the box.