Smoking Kit Retaining Member for Component Organization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Roll-Your-Own (RYO)/Make-Your-Own (MYO) cigarette kits suffer from disorganization over time, with items like paper tubes and filter tips becoming difficult to locate due to rearrangement and potential damage within the container, leading to an unstructured and inaccessible arrangement.

Innovation Solution

A kit design featuring a retaining member with elongate smoking article making elements, such as stacks of filter tips or rolling paper, adhered to it, which maintains their position and orientation within the container, ensuring they remain accessible and organized.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If smoking apparatus items are freely arranged in the container for easy accessibility, then users can easily access items initially, but over time the arrangement deteriorates and items become difficult to locate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccessibility of smoking apparatus itemsVSAvoidOrganization of items in container
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A retaining member is introduced as an intermediary component between the container and the smoking apparatus items (filter tips, paper tubes, rolling paper). This retaining member has a body that holds the items and a flap that can be opened or removed to provide access. The intermediary structure prevents direct contact between items and other container contents, maintaining organization while enabling controlled access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining member is designed as a separate, removable component that segments the storage space. It divides the container into distinct zones: one for organized storage of smoking apparatus items within the retaining member body, and another for loose tobacco or other items. This segmentation prevents items from mixing and maintaining their respective arrangements independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If lightweight items like filter tips and paper tubes are placed vertically for visibility and access, then they are easily located initially, but they become crushed under other items over time

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVisibility and accessibility of filter tips and paper tubesVSAvoidStructural integrity of fragile items
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining member body acts as a protective intermediary structure that encloses fragile items like filter tips and paper tubes. These items are held within the retaining member's body, shielded from external pressure by the rigid or semi-rigid structure of the retaining member. The flap provides access without requiring users to move or risk damaging other items.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining member structure is designed beforehand to provide protective enclosure for fragile items. By pre-positioning filter tips and paper tubes within the retaining member's body before they can be crushed, the structure anticipates and prevents the harmful effect of compression from other items in the container.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Stability of the object's composition

If sturdy items like rolling paper are placed upright for stability, then they maintain their position, but they fall sideways over time requiring re-orientating

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePosition stability of rolling paperVSAvoidTime required for re-orientating items
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining member serves as a stable intermediary structure that holds rolling paper in a fixed, upright position. The rolling paper is positioned within the retaining member body, which provides structural support and prevents it from falling sideways. This intermediary structure maintains the rolling paper's orientation without requiring user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining member is pre-configured with the rolling paper in the correct upright orientation during assembly. This preliminary positioning ensures that the rolling paper starts in the correct position and remains there due to the retaining member's structure, eliminating the need for future re-orientating actions by users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Quantity of substance

If multiple elongate smoking article making elements are provided in the container, then the kit is more complete and useful, but the interior becomes less organized and items are harder to locate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNumber of smoking article making elementsVSAvoidAccessibility and organization of elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining member is designed to hold multiple elongate smoking article making elements (filter tips, paper tubes, rolling paper) in separate, organized zones within its body. Each type of element can be positioned in a dedicated area, and the flap can be opened to access any of them. This segmentation allows multiple items to coexist in an organized manner without interfering with each other's accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3031337B1A kit for smoking articles
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 JT INTERNATIONAL SA
  • EP3031337B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3031337B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A kit of smoking apparatus for forming a smoking article is provided comprising a container, a pouch of loose tobacco provided within the container, a retaining member provided within the container, and an elongate smoking article making element adhered to the retaining member, wherein said elongate smoking article making element is removable from the retaining member by a user.