Sliding Internal Casing for Smoking Article Pack Surface Area

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cigarette packets with sliding internal casings are difficult to produce on traditional machines, require special blanks, and do not appeal to conservative smokers due to complex designs and aesthetic issues.

Innovation Solution

A cigarette packet design with an external casing that includes both a containing body and a lid, allowing for a large surface area for printing and easy production on standard machines, featuring a breaking line that separates the internal and external components for enhanced versatility and aesthetic appeal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a sliding internal casing is used to increase visible surface area for promotional messages, then the surface area for communications is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisible surface areaVSAvoidpacket structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The packet is divided into two separate casings: an external casing and an internal casing that can slide independently. This segmentation allows each casing to be manufactured separately using standard equipment while enabling increased visible surface area when the internal casing is extracted and displayed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The internal casing is designed to slide in and out of the external casing, transforming the packet from a static structure to a dynamic one. This allows the packet to adapt between a compact traditional appearance and an expanded promotional display configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If a sliding internal casing is used to increase visible surface area for promotional messages, then the surface area for communications is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisible surface areaVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the packet into external and internal casings that can be manufactured separately, the invention enables production on standard packet-making machines without requiring special equipment or blanks, thus improving ease of manufacture while maintaining increased surface area capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The external casing is designed to function as a complete packet on its own for traditional use, while also serving as a display case when the internal casing is extracted. This multi-functionality allows standard manufacturing processes to produce a packet that serves multiple purposes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the lid is attached to a flat rear panel that slides with respect to the internal casing, then the opening system is simplified, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to non-aligned rear walls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening system simplicityVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention separates the lid attachment from the internal casing by attaching the lid to the external casing's rear panel. This segmentation allows the rear walls of both casings to be aligned flush with each other, improving aesthetic appearance while maintaining a simple sliding opening mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2499055B1Pack for smoking articles, blank and internal casing
Publication Date: 2015.09.23 GIMA TT SPA
  • EP2499055B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2499055B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2499055B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A packet (1) for smoking articles comprises an external casing, including a containing body (3) and a closing body (4) rotatable around a hinge (5). In order to increase a surface of the packet (1) available for communications to the consumer, advertising messages and suchlike, the packet (1) comprises an internal casing ( 18) slidable with respect to the external casing, the closing body (4) being joined to the internal casing (18) so as to be distanced from the containing body (3) when the internal casing (18) is at least partly extracted from the external casing (2) and the hinge (5) being made on an external wall (22a, 22b) of the internal casing (18).