Severable Plastic Film Package for Stacked Confectionery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of metallic foil for packaging stacked consumable products is expensive and lacks marketing potential, requiring additional outer wrappers for informational purposes, leading to increased costs and bulkiness.
Innovation Solution
A packaging device using a rupture-resistant plastic film sheet with weakened regions, such as perforations or score lines, to facilitate easy dispensing and removal of products while maintaining environmental sealing and aesthetic appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metallic foil is used as the outer wrapper, then the package can be opened and reclosed, but the cost increases and marketing potential is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metallic foil to plastic film, which maintains the reclosability function while reducing cost and enabling marketing features. The plastic film can be manufactured more cheaply and printed with advertising indicia, resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure with an inner foil layer for reclosability and an outer printed film layer for marketing and cost efficiency. This composite approach allows both functions to coexist: the foil provides the sealing capability while the printed film provides the marketing potential and reduces overall cost.
2Reliability
If metallic foil is used as the outer wrapper, then the package can be opened and reclosed, but additional outer wrappers are needed for informational purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the informational advertising function with the outer wrapper structure by printing directly on the plastic film layer. This eliminates the need for separate informational wrappers while maintaining the reclosability provided by the inner foil layer, thus reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer plastic film layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the marketing/advertising surface through printing, acts as a protective outer layer, and works with the inner foil to enable reclosability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
3Reliability
If foil is used as the outer wrapper, then reclosability is achieved, but the material is expensive and lacks advertising potential
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the outer material parameter from foil to printable plastic film, which enables advertising potential through direct printing while maintaining reclosability through the inner foil layer. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by assigning different functions to different material layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure separates the reclosability function (inner foil) from the advertising function (outer printed film). This allows each material to optimize its specific function: foil for sealing and film for printing, eliminating the need to choose between reclosability and advertising potential.
4Ease of manufacture
If plastic film is used instead of foil, then cost is reduced and advertising potential is improved, but the film must be made rupture-resistant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the plastic film (thickness, molecular structure, reinforcement) to achieve rupture resistance while maintaining the cost and advertising advantages. This parameter optimization allows the film to serve as an effective outer wrapper without sacrificing strength.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5A~5B
Figure 6A~6D
AI summary
A package device (10) enclosing and for supporting and dispensing confectionery product includes a plurality of adjacent confectionery product pieces (18) arranged in a longitudinal configuration and an elongate non-metallic package (12) enclosing said plurality of adjacent confectionery product pieces (18). The package has a plurality of weakened locations (20) spaced apart at locations along its length to permit manual severing to open the package to dispense the product pieces. The weakened locations (20) extend perimetrically around the package (12).