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A Better Design for Packaging Tape

By Rain Noe - July 3, 2012

in Object Culture

Boxcutters are useful both for opening packages and settling scores. But I wouldn't need to use one if packaging tape could be opened on its own, and if deadbeats would pay me my money on time.

Design can't do anything about the latter situation, but it can solve the former. Rip Cord, a concept currently under development at Quirky, is a brilliant idea for packaging tape whereby a string is embedded along the tape's centerline.

The serrated blade on the dispenser kicks out in the middle, providing a tabbed area you can pull up with a fingernail.

Then you just grab hold of the string, and zzzzzip the tape open.

Simple, smart, and far easier than trying to squeeze the vig out of degenerate debtors.

o

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Mitch

12 years ago

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Its silly because its from Quirky. Quirky is like a digital version of the shamwow guy, where useless products are being pumped out at alarming rates. Thankfully, most of them wont see actual production.
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Tony

12 years ago

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...and you still have to peel up that tab, which is not saving you any time or making it easier... Could be good if that tab folds back on itself somehow? I don't mind using a knife - it's not that much effort is it?? Errr...why do I feel this product is kinda silly?
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Anthony Perpepaj

12 years ago

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Even if the seem didn't line up perfectly i think there wouldn't be any real problem but when i saw the images i couldn't help but think that when i open boxes i cut along the top and along the sides. This really doesn't account for that (if you look at the second to last picture you'll see what i mean), unless the tape is easier to rip open.
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Conan A

12 years ago

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Nah there's a bigger one - what happens if you put on a few wraps overlaying each other as you typically would when your re-using an old box or wrapping an odd shaped package?
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Kyle C

12 years ago

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The only drawback with this is that you have to line up the exact middle of the tape with the exact spot where the box flaps come together. if you are off by a little bit, you stil have to break out that knife or pen or key or what have you.
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