Pourable Product Package With Slanted Top Wall for Easy Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packages and packaging blanks for pourable products, such as Tetra Brik Aseptic packages, lack improvements for direct consumption on the go and efficient opening mechanisms, necessitating further enhancements for consumer convenience.

Innovation Solution

A package design featuring a slanted top wall, a designated pour opening area covered by a separation membrane, and an opening device like a peel foil or pull-tab, allowing direct consumption and easy access to the contents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a package is designed with a designated pour opening area and an opening device, then direct consumption on the go is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect consumption convenienceVSAvoidopening device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The package is divided into functional zones: a sealed body portion and a separate designated pour opening area with an opening device. This segmentation allows the opening device to be a simple, dedicated component rather than a complex mechanism integrated throughout the package structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The opening function is extracted as a separate, removable opening device (such as a peel foil or pull-tab) that can be applied to or integrated with the pour opening area. This extraction simplifies the overall package design by using a standalone, easy-to-manipulate component rather than a complex built-in opening mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If a slanted top wall is implemented, then pouring efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepouring efficiencyVSAvoidtop wall inclination angle

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The top wall is designed with a slanted, asymmetric configuration rather than a symmetric flat surface. This asymmetric geometry naturally directs the flow of liquid toward the pour opening, improving pouring efficiency. The specific angle is optimized to achieve effective pouring without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The top wall inclination angle is optimized within a practical range that balances pouring performance with manufacturability. By selecting an angle that is sufficiently slanted to improve pouring but not excessively steep, the design achieves good pouring efficiency while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing capabilities and reasonable tolerance levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4617188A1Package for a pourable product and packaging blank for forming a package

Publication Date: 2025.09.17 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA

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AI summary

There is described a package (1, 1') for a pourable product comprising a bottom wall (3) and a top wall (4) spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis (A) of the package (1, 1') and a side wall (5) interposed between the top wall (3) and the bottom wall (4). The top wall (4) is inclined with respect to the bottom wall (3). The top wall (4) comprises two front corners (15) and the bottom wall (3) comprises two bottom front corners (24). A first extension (E1) between the two front corners (15) is smaller than a second extension (E2) between the two bottom front corners (24). The side wall (5) comprises two longitudinal front edges (29). Each longitudinal front edge (29) extends between the bottom wall (3) and the top wall (4) and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis (A).