Retractable Handle for Composite Package Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing composite packages with external handles are prone to damage during transport and storage, and require complex user manipulation to access the handle, making them inconvenient for handling and storage.
Innovation Solution
A composite package design with a retractable handle that is embedded within the secondary package, allowing it to be protected and easily extracted without disturbing the primary packages, using a sheet of cardboard with reinforcement and a grip portion that minimizes space and weight, and can be easily fabricated and cost-effective.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a handle is provided on the exterior of the composite package, then ease of manipulation and transport is improved, but the handle is easily torn from the composite package or damaged during transport, warehousing, or in-store display
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is nested within the composite package structure, specifically positioned within the envelope formed by the outer packaging material. The handle remains enclosed within the package until the envelope is opened, at which point the handle is naturally revealed and can be grasped. This nesting approach protects the handle from damage during storage and transport while ensuring it is accessible when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is pre-positioned and secured within the envelope structure during package assembly, rather than being attached externally afterward. This preliminary integration ensures the handle is firmly in place and protected from the outset, eliminating the need for separate attachment steps and reducing the risk of handle loss or damage during handling.
2Reliability
If the handle is embedded within the composite package, then protection from damage is improved, but the user must break perforated bands and rotate containers to access the handle
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed to transition from a static, enclosed state within the envelope to an accessible state when the envelope is opened. The envelope structure naturally guides the user's interaction: breaking the sealed edge or tearing the envelope material automatically reveals and exposes the handle, allowing it to move from a protected position to an accessible position without requiring separate manipulation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is extracted from the traditional external attachment approach and integrated into the envelope structure itself. When the envelope is opened, the handle is naturally extracted or revealed as part of the opening process, eliminating the need for separate handle extraction steps and simplifying user interaction.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple paper or plastic strap handle is glued to the exterior, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the handle can easily be torn from the composite package
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is merged with the envelope structure through integration rather than separate attachment. The handle becomes an inherent part of the envelope assembly, where the envelope material itself forms or supports the handle structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate gluing operations and creates a unified structure where the handle and envelope work together as a single integrated component.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle structure utilizes composite construction, combining the envelope material with the handle function in a unified structure. This may involve layering different materials or integrating the handle within the envelope's multi-layer construction, creating a stronger, more durable attachment that relies on the combined properties of the materials rather than simple adhesive bonding.
Data Source
AI summary
A composite package (100) comprises a plurality of primary packages (102) which are gathered into at least one secondary package (106) that comprises an envelope (104) about at least some of said primary packages (102), and a handle (108), and is characterized in that the handle (108) is mobile between a retracted first position substantially enclosed within said composite package (100), and an extracted second position projecting at least partially from said composite package (100).