Tapered Edge Portions for Consumer Article Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for consumer goods, such as smoking articles, often suffer from structural damage and a compromised appearance during assembly due to the folding of rounded or beveled edges, leading to a risk of holes or gaps formation and a less-than-smooth finish.
Innovation Solution
A container formed from a laminar blank with modified edge portions that taper towards each other, defined by creasing lines or ablated lines, reducing the risk of damage during assembly and enhancing the container's strength and appearance by minimizing edge interference and allowing for smoother bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If rounded or beveled edges are formed using conventional creasing lines, then the container has a distinctive appearance, but the strength and finish are impacted and holes or gaps can form at junctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the creasing lines by introducing tapering end portions that reduce the width of the modified edge portion towards the junction. This parameter change allows the edge to maintain its rounded or beveled appearance while reducing the width at the junction to prevent hole or gap formation, thereby resolving the contradiction between shape and strength.
2Shape
If rounded or beveled edges are formed using conventional creasing lines, then the container has a distinctive appearance, but the visual and tactile perception is impacted due to holes or gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the creasing lines by introducing tapering end portions that progressively reduce the width towards the junction. This ensures that the modified edge portion does not form holes or gaps when folded, thereby maintaining high manufacturing precision and finish quality while preserving the desired rounded or beveled appearance.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard packing apparatus and techniques are used, then the assembly process is simple, but the container is prone to damage during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the creasing lines by introducing tapering end portions that reduce the width at the junction area. This design modification allows the container to be assembled using standard packing apparatus and techniques without requiring significant changes to existing machines and methods, while simultaneously reducing the risk of damage during assembly by preventing hole or gap formation at the edge junctions.
Data Source
AI summary
Container for consumer articles, the container being at least partially formed from a laminar blank (100), the laminar blank defining a portion of the container, which includes: a first planar wall (101); a second planar wall (102) connected to the first planar wall by a first modified edge portion (104); and a third planar wall (103) connected to the first planar wall by a second modified edge portion (105). The first modified edge portion is defined by an ablation area, on its inner surface, having one or more ablated lines (201-206) each having a residual thickness less than the thickness (T) of the laminar blank, the first modified edge portion an end portion tapering from a width (W) of the first portion to a point at the junction with the second modified edge portion. The second modified edge portion is defined by a plurality of creasing lines (300).