Tearing Strip Thin Portion for Sealable Easy-Open Containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers with zipper tapes suffer from deteriorated sealability due to manufacturing errors causing cuts that pass through the base, and the use of additional protectors or increased resin amounts and manufacturing steps to maintain sealability.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring a thin portion on the tearing strip, positioned within 20% of its length from the end, formed by pressing, which serves as the cutting endpoint without passing through the base, ensuring sealability without additional members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a cut is formed in the film and tearing strip to create a tab for opening, then the container can be opened, but the sealability is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening operationVSAvoidsealability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tearing strip is divided into a thick portion and a thin portion, where the thin portion serves as the cutting endpoint. This segmentation allows the tab to be formed without creating a complete cut through the base, thereby maintaining sealability while enabling opening operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tearing strip has non-uniform thickness with a specific thin portion located within 20% of its total length from one end. This local quality change creates a controlled cutting endpoint that prevents complete penetration through the base, resolving the contradiction between opening capability and sealability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a protector is provided to cover the tab area to maintain sealability, then the sealability is ensured, but the amount of resin used and manufacturing steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesealabilityVSAvoidnumber of components and steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The function of the protector is eliminated by incorporating the sealability maintenance feature directly into the tearing strip structure itself. The thin portion acts as the cutting endpoint, removing the need for separate protector components and reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing function and tab formation function are merged into a single integrated structure. The thin portion of the tearing strip simultaneously provides the cutting endpoint for tab formation and maintains sealability, eliminating the need for separate protectors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the cut passes through the base due to manufacturing errors, then the tab can be formed, but the sealability is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetab formationVSAvoidcut depth control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The thin portion is pre-formed in the tearing strip at a controlled location within 20% of its total length from one end. This beforehand preparation ensures that the cutting process stops at the thin portion without penetrating through the base, preventing manufacturing errors from compromising sealability.

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

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The thin portion on the tearing strip provides a reliable cutting endpoint, maintaining sealability while reducing the need for additional protectors and resin, thus enhancing manufacturing efficiency and seal integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a thin portion 131 formed by pressing in a vicinity of one end of the tearing strip 122

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4691943A1Container, film with tape, tape member, method for manufacturing film with tape, and method for manufacturing container
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 IDEMITSU UNITECH CO LTD
  • EP4691943A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4691943A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4691943A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A container is provided that includes: a film forming a container body; and a tape member including a tearing strip and a base, the tearing strip being directly or indirectly bonded to the film, the base being layered on the tearing strip at a side opposite to the film, in which the tearing strip includes a thin portion formed by pressing in the vicinity of one end of the tearing strip.