Side-Opening Hinge-Lid Container Audible Closure Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side-opening hinge-lid cigarette packs lack an audible indication for the consumer when opening or closing, which can lead to uncertainty about the container's status, especially regarding tampering or proper closure.
Innovation Solution
A side-opening hinge-lid container design featuring a body portion with a liner and a lid portion connected by a hinge line, where outwardly extending ears on the liner engage inwardly extending flaps in the lid portion to produce a sound during opening and closing, providing audible feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional side-opening hinge-lid cigarette packs are used, then the pack structure is simple, but there is no audible indication of closure or opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by creating an audible signal through the interaction between ears on the body portion liner and flaps on the lid portion liner. This sound feedback informs the consumer about the closure or opening status of the pack, resolving the information loss problem without requiring complex electronic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the liner structure with ears and flaps as an intermediary mechanism to produce the audible indication. This intermediary component translates the mechanical action of opening/closing into an audible signal, adding functionality while maintaining relatively simple construction.
2Ease of operation
If tabs are added to the liner to hold the pack in open or closed position, then the pack can be held in desired positions, but resistance to opening and closing is created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the positioning function from the lid portion and transfers it to the body portion liner through the ears. The flaps on the lid portion can engage with these ears to provide positioning without creating compression resistance, as the engagement is through engagement rather than compression.
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 design offers consumers an audible indication of the container's opening and closing, enhancing user confidence in the pack's status and preventing unintended opening or tampering.
Implementation Method 1
at least one inwardly extending flap hingedly mounted in the lid portion for pivotal movement relative thereto, wherein during movement of the lid portion from the open position to the closed position and/or from the closed position to the open position the at least one flap engages the at least one ear to produce a sound
Data Source
AI summary
A side-opening hinge-lid container for elongate smoking articles may include a body portion and a lid portion, with the lid portion connected to the body portion along a hinge line for pivotal movement between a closed position and an open position, in which at least a portion of the interior of the body portion is accessible. A body portion liner may be provided, and being mounted in the body portion while projecting sideways therefrom into a space covered by the lid portion in the closed position. An outwardly extending ear mounted on the body portion liner. An inwardly extending flap hingedly mounted in the lid portion for pivotal movement relative thereto. During pivotal movement of the lid portion between the open and closed positions, the flap engages the ear to produce a sound.