Sliding Package With Foldable Connection Element

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packages with sliding openings for articles, such as smoking, sweets, and pharmaceutical items, face difficulties in easy extraction due to partial tray extraction limitations, which can lead to accidental falls.

Innovation Solution

A package design featuring a sliding inner shell within an outer shell, where a foldable connection element adjusts its position to facilitate easy access by moving the inner shell between closing and opening positions, allowing the article to protrude through an extraction opening, making removal simple and secure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tray is partially extracted from the outer shell to prevent accidental fall, then safety is improved, but the ease of extracting the article deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of accidental fallVSAvoidease of extracting article
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection element is designed to be foldable, allowing it to dynamically change its configuration between a first state (when the tray is partially extracted) and a second state (when the tray is fully extracted). This dynamic adaptability enables the package to provide both safety during partial extraction and ease of operation during full extraction, resolving the technical contradiction between preventing accidental falls and facilitating article removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the tray is fully extracted from the outer shell, then the ease of extracting the article is improved, but the risk of accidental fall increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of extracting articleVSAvoidprevention of accidental fall
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The foldable connection element adapts its configuration based on the extraction state. When the tray is fully extracted, the connection element folds to its second configuration, maintaining stability and preventing accidental falls while allowing easy access to the article. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between ease of extraction and prevention of accidental falls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a fixed connection element is used between outer shell and inner shell, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the adaptability to different extraction positions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to extraction positions
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection element transitions from a fixed structure to a foldable, dynamic structure that can assume multiple configurations. This adds minimal complexity while significantly enhancing adaptability to different extraction positions, allowing the package to function properly whether the tray is partially or fully extracted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection element's geometric configuration changes through folding, transitioning between first and second configurations. This parameter change (from extended to folded state) enables the same component to adapt to different extraction positions, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3681812B1Package for articles
Publication Date: 2022.05.11 GD SPA
  • EP3681812B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP3681812B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3A
  • EP3681812B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

Package (1) for articles, comprising: an article (2); an extraction opening (3) for the article (2); an inner shell (4); an outer shell (5) that comprises an opening (50) through which the inner shell (4) can slide between an opening position (A), in which the access to the article (2) is allowed through the extraction opening (3), and a closing position (B), in which the access to article (2) is prevented; and a connection element (6) that connects the outer shell (5) and the inner shell (4) comprising a support portion (60) for the article (2) on which the article (2) is arranged. The connection element (6) is foldable to assume a first configuration, when the inner shell (4) is in the closing position (B), in which the support portion (60) is at a first distance (dl) from the extraction opening (3), and a second configuration, when the inner shell (4) is in the opening position (A), in which the support portion (60) is at a second distance (d2) from the extraction opening (3) which is lesser than the first distance (dl).