Slide-open Package with Rotating Support Wall

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slide-open packages for articles, such as smoking and pharmaceutical items, face difficulties in easy article removal while minimizing the risk of accidental falling when opened, due to the tray's partial extraction mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A slide-open package design featuring a foldable connecting element that rotates the support wall, allowing easier access to articles by sliding the inner shell between open and closed positions, while minimizing the risk of articles falling through strategic fixation and rotation of the support wall.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tray is extracted only partly from the outer shell to prevent accidental falling, then safety is improved, but ease of removing the article deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidease of removing the article
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support wall is designed to rotate from an initial position (parallel to the tray bottom) to a final position (perpendicular to the tray bottom) when the tray is extracted. This dynamic transformation allows the support wall to adapt its function: initially providing safety by preventing accidental falling, and finally facilitating easy article removal by exposing the article vertically through the extraction opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support wall is pre-positioned parallel to the tray bottom in the closed state to prevent accidental falling. When the tray is extracted, the support wall automatically rotates to a perpendicular position, preliminarily preparing the article for easy removal through the extraction opening without requiring additional user actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the tray can slide fully out of the outer shell for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of articles falling out increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of accessVSAvoidrisk of articles falling out
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support wall dynamically changes its orientation during the extraction process. When the tray is partially extracted, the support wall rotates from a horizontal position (parallel to tray bottom) to a vertical position (perpendicular to tray bottom). This dynamic adjustment allows full extraction for easy access while minimizing the risk of articles falling out by positioning the support wall to hold articles securely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a simple sliding mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to facilitate easy article removal while preventing falling deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanism complexityVSAvoidease of article removal
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support wall is designed to rotate automatically during the extraction process, transforming from a horizontal to a vertical position. This dynamic mechanism is integrated into the simple sliding structure, adding functionality without significantly increasing device complexity. The rotation is achieved through the geometric relationship between the support wall and the extraction opening, requiring no additional actuators or complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3755636B1Slide-open package for articles
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 GD SPA
  • EP3755636B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3755636B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3755636B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A slide-open package (1) for articles, comprising: at least one article; an inner shell (2) comprising an extraction opening (20) for taking out the article; an outer shell (3) comprising an opening (30) through which the inner shell (2) can slide between an open position (A), allowing access to the article through the extraction opening (20), and a closed position (B), preventing access to the article; an article support wall (4) on which the article is fixed; a connecting element (5) that connects the outer shell (3) and the inner shell (2), that is connected to the support wall (4) and that is foldable in such a way that, when the inner shell (2) is moved from the closed position (B) to the open position (A), the connecting element (5) is moved from a gathered position (C) to an extended position (D) which causes the support wall (4) to rotate and the article to come out through the extraction opening (20).