Retaining Key Relief Slot for Low-Friction Product Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packaging systems face challenges in securely retaining products during shipment and storage while enabling easy removal, often suffer from manufacturing variations causing excessive friction, and contribute to environmental waste.
Innovation Solution
A package design featuring a retaining key with a closed relief slot that allows flexure during movement between locked and released configurations, reducing frictional resistance and facilitating easy product removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retaining key with friction fit components is used to securely retain products during shipment, then product security during transport is improved, but manufacturing variations cause excessive friction that makes it difficult for users to manipulate the key
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relief slot in the retaining key that changes the structural parameters of the key body, allowing controlled flexing and reducing friction during operation. This parameter change enables the key to accommodate manufacturing variations while maintaining secure retention during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief slot creates a dynamic element in the otherwise rigid retaining key, allowing it to flex and adapt during manipulation. This dynamic characteristic reduces excessive friction caused by manufacturing tolerances while preserving the friction fit security during shipment.
2Reliability
If additional elements such as covers, straps, or adhesive tape are used to supplement packaging, then product protection is improved, but the system becomes cumbersome and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the retention and release functionality directly into the retaining key mechanism itself, merging multiple functions into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate covers, straps, or adhesive tape, reducing overall packaging complexity while maintaining product protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining key serves multiple functions: securing the product during shipment, providing a manipulation interface for users, and enabling easy release. This multi-functional design replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate packaging elements.
3Reliability
If conventional packaging systems are used, then product containment is achieved, but environmental waste is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary packaging elements such as excess covers, straps, and adhesive tape from the packaging system. By removing these redundant components while maintaining product containment through the integrated retaining key, the overall material usage and waste are reduced.
4Reliability
If friction fit components are used in thermoformed container bodies, then product retention is improved, but manufacturing variations cause inconsistent friction that affects user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The relief slot introduces a parameter change in the retaining key's structural configuration, allowing it to compensate for manufacturing variations in the thermoformed container body. This flexibility ensures consistent friction characteristics and user experience across different manufactured units.
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 solution provides consistent and efficient product retention and release, minimizing manufacturing variations' impact on friction and reducing waste, while maintaining secure product containment.
Implementation Method 1
a closed relief slot formed in the retaining key adjacent to the retaining car and configured to enable flexure of the retaining key during movement of the retaining key between locked and released configurations
Data Source
AI summary
A package for a product, a key retention system, and a retaining key utilize a closed relief slot in the retaining key to enable flexure of a retaining car on the retaining key during movement of the retaining key between locked and released configurations.