Reclosable Package With Hooded Tearable Seam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible packages for absorbent articles often lack effective reclosable features, leading to potential tampering or contamination before use, and existing solutions add cost and complexity to manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A flexible reclosable package design featuring a hooded portion with a gusset and a pleated portion, where a line of weakness is integrated within the pleated portion, allowing easy opening and reclosing without visible seams, maintaining package integrity and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hooded portion is used to provide access to the package, then ease of operation is improved, but package security deteriorates because the package cannot be sealed
Solution Approach 1:
The package is segmented into a hooded portion and a sealed portion, with the hood providing access through a tearable seam while the sealed portion maintains integrity through heat-sealed edges. This segmentation allows the package to be opened for access while maintaining security in the sealed section.
Solution Approach 2:
The package transitions from a fully sealed state to an partially opened state through the tearable seam in the hooded portion. The dynamic opening mechanism allows the hood to be pulled away to provide access while leaving the sealed portion intact and secure.
2Reliability
If additional reclosable features are added to the package, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reclosable capability is merged into the existing hooded portion structure. The hood itself serves as the reclosable feature by being tearable for opening and foldable for closing, eliminating the need for separate fasteners or complex reclosing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The hooded portion provides self-service reclosing functionality through its own structure. The hood can be folded back and pressed to adhere to itself or the package surface, providing reclosing capability without requiring additional fastening components.
3Productivity
If the package is tightly filled with compressed absorbent articles, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because opening becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The package structure is segmented with the hooded portion acting as a separate access section from the main sealed portion containing the compressed articles. This segmentation allows the hood to be opened independently without requiring force on the tightly filled sealed portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The tearable seam in the hooded portion provides a dynamic opening mechanism that requires minimal force, allowing easy access even when the sealed portion is tightly filled with compressed articles. The hood can be pulled away dynamically without affecting the compressed contents.
4Strength
If seams are added to join panels, then strength is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Heat-sealed edges act as intermediaries that join the panels together while being visually imperceptible. The heat sealing process creates a strong bond between panels without requiring visible external fasteners or seams that would compromise aesthetic appearance.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3B
AI summary
A flexible reclosable package includes a first side panel and a second side panel. The first panel defines a right side edge portion, a left side edge portion, a bottom edge portion, and a pleated portion. The second panel defines a right side edge portion, a left side edge portion, a bottom edge portion, and a hooded portion. A first seam joins the right side edge portion of the first panel with the right side edge portion of the second panel. A second seam joins the left side edge portion of the first panel with the left side edge portion of the second panel. A third seam joins the bottom edge portion of the first panel with the bottom edge portion of the second panel. A first line of weakness is provided in the pleated portion.