Disposable Beverage Pouch with Segmented Seal and Piercing Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Disposable beverage pouches are not cost-effective for manufacturers and consumers due to high markup, and existing alternatives like reusable plastic or glass containers have drawbacks such as repeated washing requirements or breakage risks.
Innovation Solution
A fillable, sealable, disposable container with a 'straw hole' and a straw attachment, made from low-density polyethylene film, featuring a liquid-tight seal and a bottom stabilizing surface that allows for easy pouring and supports the container upright, with options for secondary seals and hole creation methods like adhesive or mating channel closures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable pouches are made from multi-layer laminar materials for fluid imperviousness, then leakage resistance is improved, but piercing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch structure is segmented into distinct functional layers: multi-layer laminar material for fluid imperviousness and a separate easily pierced material layer for straw insertion. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary easily pierced material layer is introduced between the user and the multi-layer laminar material. This intermediary layer facilitates straw insertion while the laminar material maintains its fluid impervious barrier function.
2Ease of manufacture
If reusable containers are used to reduce cost, then cost-effectiveness improves, but washing requirements and breakage risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs disposable pouches made from inexpensive materials that can be discarded after single use, eliminating the need for washing and avoiding breakage risks associated with reusable containers, while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties are optimized to balance cost, durability, and disposability. The pouch uses affordable laminar materials that provide sufficient functionality for single use without requiring the durability and cleanliness of reusable containers.
3Reliability
If heat sealing is used for side walls to ensure fluid imperviousness, then sealing reliability improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch utilizes uniform heat-sealable plastic layers throughout the laminar structure, allowing consistent heat sealing across all side walls. This homogeneity simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining reliable fluid imperviousness.
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
Provides an inexpensive, convenient, and leak-resistant beverage container that is easy to use and dispose of, suitable for both children and adults, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional packaging while maintaining durability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
most disposable beverage pouches are heat sealed along their side walls, the plastic layers being used for heat sealing of the front and back surfaces of the pouch as well as fluid imperviousness
Data Source
AI summary
A fillable, sealable, disposable container for storing, transporting and consuming a liquid, such as an individual beverage serving, has opposed front and back walls joined along their opposed sides. Each wall has an upper portion, defining an opening for filling the container, and a lower portion, connecting the lower portions of the front and back walls, for stabilizing the container for filling. A sealable fluid-tight liquid retaining seal is provided at the opening, for sealing the container when filled. Means are provided for creating a hole in the front wall of the container to extract the liquid.