Food Packaging Tray Lid Connection via Segmented Tab Geometry
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food packaging with hybrid materials, such as cardboard and plastic, faces challenges in stability and ease of production, particularly in securing the lid to the shell, due to the difficulty in manufacturing and rigidity issues with cardboard knobs, leading to an unstable connection.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a second tab with a rectangular section and a rounded section adjoining it, which facilitates easy insertion and centering when the lid is placed on the shell, creating a more stable connection without the need for three-dimensional structures like knobs, and allows for automatic engagement when the first tab is bent around the folding axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cardboard or paperboard knobs are used on the lid to secure it to the tray, then the proportion of eco-friendly material is increased, but the rigidity is reduced leading to poorer attachment stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the tab by adding a rounded section to the rectangular section. This parameter modification allows the tab to be easily inserted through the opening while maintaining sufficient engagement stability, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and attachment reliability.
2Device complexity
If a second tab is designed with a polygonal shape, then the connection structure is simplified, but the insertion resistance is increased making it difficult to thread through the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by designing the rounded section of the second tab. This curved geometry reduces insertion resistance when threading through the opening while maintaining the simple two-section structure, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and insertion ease.
3Reliability
If the second tab is designed to protrude further from the opening, then the connection stability is improved, but the insertion difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded section acts as a leading edge that facilitates easy insertion through the opening, while the rectangular section provides sufficient protrusion length for stable connection. This combination resolves the contradiction between insertion ease and connection stability.
4Reliability
If three-dimensional structures like knobs are used on the lid, then the form fit with the tray is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tab structure into two simple sections (rectangular and rounded) rather than using complex three-dimensional knobs. This segmentation maintains adequate form fit through the opening while dramatically reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the tab from three-dimensional knob structures to a two-dimensional flattened structure with specific rectangular and rounded sections. This parameter change achieves adequate form fit with significantly reduced manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Packaging, in particular for food, comprising a tray (2) and a lid (3) that can be placed on it, wherein at least one first flap (4) is provided which is connected to the tray (2) via a fold line (5), the fold line (5) extending along a fold axis (X), wherein: - a separating line (6) is present in the tray (2) and/or in the at least one first flap (4) which meets the fold line (5) at at least two points, so that at least one second flap (7) is formed between the fold axis (X) and the separating line (6), - the lid (3) has at least one counter surface (8) and at least one opening (9), preferably in the form of an elongated hole, - the at least one counter surface (8) on the lid (3) is arranged such that it folds the at least one first flap (4) away from the at least one opening (9) when the lid (3) is placed on the tray (2).wherein the at least one second tab (7) is guided through the at least one opening (9), wherein the at least one second tab (7) has a rectangular section (7a) and a rounded section (7b) adjoining the rectangular section (7a), preferably on a longitudinal side of the rectangular section (7a).