Reclosable Carton Locking Mechanism for Food Freshness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food cartons lack effective locking mechanisms that securely close and re-open, compromising the freshness and safety of food products during storage and display.
Innovation Solution
A carton design featuring foldable panels and flaps with a reclosable lock system, utilizing first and second locking features and tabs to securely close the top, while allowing easy access, and a method for forming such a carton using a blank with specific fold lines and locking features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reclosable lock system is added to secure the top of the carton, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into separate functional elements: locking tabs on the flaps and locking features on the panels. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together to provide secure closure, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking tabs are integrated within the flap structure, and the locking features are incorporated into the panel design. The locking mechanism is nested within the existing carton structure rather than adding external components, which improves sealing reliability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the carton is designed to be tightly sealed to maintain freshness, then the protection of food products is improved, but the ease of operation for opening and re-closing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism transitions from a static sealed state to a dynamic opening/closing state. The locking tabs can be easily manipulated to disengage from the locking features, allowing the carton to transition between secure sealed state and accessible open state, thus maintaining both protection and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to be easily engaged and disengaged by simple user actions without requiring additional tools or complex operations. The locking tabs naturally align with the locking features during closure and can be easily pulled apart for opening, making the system self-servicing and maintaining ease of operation while ensuring tight sealing.
Data Source
AI summary
A carton for holding at least one food product is disclosed, and includes a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, a first side flap, and a second side flap. The plurality of panels includes a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and at least one end panel foldably connected to the bottom panel. The first side flap is foldably connected to the first side panel and includes a first tab and a second tab. The second side flap is foldably connected to the second side panel and includes a first locking feature and a second locking feature. The first tab is engaged with the first locking feature and the second tab is engaged with the second locking feature to form a reclosable lock of the carton.