Reclosable Plastic Header for Semi-Rigid Package
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reclosable packages lack improvements in convenience, sustainability, and performance, particularly in providing high capacity, space efficiency, and protection for delicate products, while being lightweight and adaptable for various product types.
Innovation Solution
The package design incorporates a semi-rigid or rigid container with a plastic or polymer reclosable header, featuring innovative shapes such as circular, hourglass, and gusseted configurations, along with attachment methods like tear tape and pour spouts, to enhance functionality and recyclability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a plastic flexible header and reclosure is combined with a semi-rigid or rigid box structure, then the package becomes reclosable and convenient for consumer use, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rigid box structure with the flexible plastic header into a single integrated package unit. The header is heat-sealed to the box opening, creating a unified structure that provides both the rigidity of the box and the flexibility/reclosability of the header, eliminating the need for separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic header serves multiple functions: it provides the reclosure mechanism, acts as a barrier to contamination, creates a pour spout for dispensing, and can be heat-sealed to the box. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components while achieving the desired reclosability
2Strength
If a rigid or semi-rigid container structure is used, then protection for crushable or delicate products is improved, but the package weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The package uses a composite structure combining rigid box material (paperboard or plastic) with flexible plastic header material. This composite construction provides the necessary strength for product protection while using lighter-weight materials compared to a fully rigid container, reducing overall package weight
3Quantity of substance
If the container structure is optimized for high capacity and space efficiency, then the packaging capacity increases, but the adaptability for various product types decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible plastic header can be formed into different configurations (flat, gusseted, with or without pour spouts) depending on the product requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the same basic package structure to accommodate various product types while maintaining optimized capacity through the rigid box portion
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the container of the type with a semi-rigid or rigid container portion and reclosable header are provided.