Sliding Inner-Box Packaging With Damage-Resistant Retaining Tabs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging designs require specially designed opening tabs that are prone to damage during transport or manufacturing, leading to accidental opening risks.

Innovation Solution

A packaging design with a retaining device featuring internal tabs and recesses in the outer casing, eliminating the need for external opening tabs, ensuring secure closure and minimizing damage risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If external opening tabs are used on the outer casing, then the packaging can be opened, but the tabs are prone to damage during transport or manufacturing leading to accidental opening risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening capabilityVSAvoiddamage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional design by moving the opening mechanism from the outer casing to the inner box. Instead of having tabs on the outer casing that pull outward, the inner box has tabs that push inward against the outer casing to open it. This inversion protects the opening mechanism from external damage during transport and stacking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The opening mechanism is nested within the inner box rather than being part of the outer casing. The tabs are formed on the inner box and interact with recesses in the outer casing through openings, creating a nested configuration where the opening mechanism is protected inside the inner box structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If external opening tabs are used on the outer casing, then the packaging can be opened, but there is a risk that these tabs could be accidentally damaged during manufacturing or transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening capabilityVSAvoiddamage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional design by moving the opening mechanism from the outer casing to the inner box. Instead of having tabs on the outer casing that pull outward, the inner box has tabs that push inward against the outer casing to open it. This inversion protects the opening mechanism from external damage during transport and stacking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The openings in the outer casing act as intermediaries that allow the tabs on the inner box to interact with the outer casing structure. This intermediary configuration enables the opening function while protecting the tabs from direct exposure to external forces that could cause damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If opening tabs are designed on the outer casing, then the packaging can be opened, but the tabs could be damaged if the corresponding blanks are folded together during manufacturing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional design by moving the opening mechanism from the outer casing to the inner box. Instead of having tabs on the outer casing that pull outward, the inner box has tabs that push inward against the outer casing to open it. This inversion protects the opening mechanism from external damage during transport and stacking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The tabs and recesses are pre-formed on the blanks before assembly. The tabs are formed on the inner box blank and the recesses on the outer casing blank, so that when the blanks are folded and assembled, the opening mechanism is already in place and protected, eliminating the risk of damage during the folding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3988464B1Package and blanks for producing said package
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 MAYR MELNHOF KARTON
  • EP3988464B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3988464B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3988464B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a packaging (100) comprising an inner box (90) for storing goods, an outer housing (80) surrounding the inner box (90), wherein the inner box (90) is slidably mounted within the outer housing (80) and is movable between a closed and an open position, and a retaining device for preventing the packaging (100) from being unintentionally opened from the closed to the open position.The retaining device comprises at least one first flap (72) formed on the inner box (90), wherein the first flap (72) is configured such that, in the closed position of the packaging (100), it engages in a corresponding first recess (40) on an inner surface of the outer housing (80), and at least one first opening (38) formed in the outer housing (80), wherein the first opening (38) is configured and arranged such that, in the closed position of the packaging (100), it at least partially overlaps the first flap (72). The invention further comprises a set for manufacturing a two-part packaging (100) for storing goods, comprising a first blank (10) for manufacturing an outer housing (80) of the packaging (100) and a second blank (42) for manufacturing an inner box (90) of the packaging (100) that is slidable within the outer housing (80).