Deformable Beverage Container With Controlled Collapse and Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers face issues with inconsistent external force requirements for deformation and varying side wall shapes, leading to unpredictable content discharge amounts and concentrations when used to mix concentrated beverage ingredients with water.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring a deformation controlling recess in the side wall portion with a progressively reduced width, an annular seal with a detaching seal portion, and a reverse-oriented annular seal to ensure consistent deformation and discharge, allowing for constant concentration mixing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the container body is deformed by applying external force to achieve content discharge, then the contents can be discharged from the container, but the external force required is not constant and the deformation shape varies, leading to inconsistent discharge amounts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge amount of contentsVSAvoidconsistency of discharge amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a deformation controlling recess with specific geometric features (progressively reduced width from back face to bottom face) at a localized position on the side wall. This creates a predetermined deformation path that ensures consistent collapsing behavior. The local structural modification guides the deformation process to occur uniformly, resulting in reliable and repeatable content discharge amounts regardless of variations in applied external force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the side wall portion deforms freely to reduce container volume, then content discharge is facilitated, but the final deformation shape varies, causing inconsistent discharge amounts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent discharge efficiencyVSAvoidconsistency of deformation shape
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The deformation controlling recess is pre-formed during container manufacturing with a specific geometry where the width progressively reduces from the back face toward the bottom face. This preliminary structural preparation creates a built-in deformation guide that determines the collapsing path. When external force is applied, the container wall follows this pre-determined path, ensuring consistent final shapes and reliable discharge amounts without requiring precise control during the deformation process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the container body is made highly deformable to facilitate content discharge, then discharge is easier, but the container may deform unpredictably, affecting discharge consistency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of content dischargeVSAvoidpredictability of deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The deformation controlling recess acts as an intermediary structure between the container wall material and the applied external force. It provides a controlled interface that manages the deformation process, ensuring that the wall collapses in a predictable manner along a predetermined path. This intermediary structure maintains reliability by guiding the deformation process even when the container material is highly deformable, preventing unpredictable deformation patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 container achieves consistent deformation and content discharge, ensuring a constant concentration of the mixed beverage by concentrating stress at the deformation controlling recess and reducing interference from the deformed side wall, thereby minimizing residual contents.

Implementation Method 1

a portion in the side wall portion where collapsing deformation starts will always be located at an end portion of the deformation controlling recess offset toward the bottom face

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStress concentration:

Implementation Method 2

a detaching seal portion which is detached in response to increase of pressure inside the container body associated with deformation of the container body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-induced detachment:

Data Source

PatentEP3017733B1container
Publication Date: 2018.05.30 SUNTORY HLDG LTD
  • EP3017733B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3017733B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3017733B1 patent drawingFigure 5(a)~6

AI summary

Provided is a container with which its container body can be deformed with a constantly approximately same external force until most of the contents has been discharged from the container body and it is possible to cause readily the final shape after the deformation to be a constant shape. Also, provided is a container with which the amount of contents discharged eventually from the container can be rendered constant, thus making it possible to obtain a diluted product having a constant concentration. The container includes a bottomed container body 1 holding contents therein and a lid member 9 for closing an opening of the container body 1, the container body 1 and the lid member 9 being sealed by an annular seal portion formed along a flanged face of the opening. At a specified portion of the annular seal portion, there is provided a detaching seal portion 6S which is detached in response to increase of pressure inside the container body 1 associated with deformation of the container body 1 based on an external force received from a bottom face 3 of the container body 1. And, at a portion of a side wall portion of the container body 1, there is provided a deformation controlling recess 16 whose width is progressively reduced from a back face side of the flange toward the bottom face 3 side.