Thermally Breachable Sauce Packet for Stand-Up Pouch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disposable containers for heating food in microwave ovens lack an efficient method to automatically dispense sauce onto the food during heating, leading to inconsistent flavor distribution and timing.

Innovation Solution

A disposable container with a thermally breachable sauce packet attached to the interior sidewall, which expands and releases sauce when pressure reaches a breach threshold, ensuring sauce is dispensed at appropriate times during the heating interval, adjustable for different food types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sauce is added manually after heating, then sauce distribution can be controlled, but the flavor distribution becomes inconsistent and timing is imprecise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesauce dispensing timing precisionVSAvoidmanual sauce addition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sauce packet is designed to automatically breach and dispense sauce during the heating process without requiring manual intervention. The packet's thermal breachability allows it to self-release at the appropriate time, eliminating the need for users to manually time and distribute the sauce.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The sauce is pre-packaged in a thermally breachable packet that is attached to the container before heating begins. The packet is positioned and prepared in advance to automatically release at the correct moment during heating, ensuring precise timing without requiring action during the heating process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If sauce is added at the beginning of heating, then sauce distribution timing is early, but the sauce may burn or separate before the food is ready

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesauce dispensing time controlVSAvoidsauce quality consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sauce packet's breach temperature is specifically engineered to match the heating profile of the food. By adjusting the thermal breachability parameters of the packet material, the sauce releases at the precise moment when the food reaches the appropriate temperature, preventing burning or separation while ensuring timely distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The packet's breach characteristics are made adjustable to accommodate different food types and heating requirements. The thermal breachability can be modified to create different breach thresholds, allowing the system to adapt to various cooking scenarios and maintain sauce quality consistency across different applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If a fixed sauce packet design is used, then manufacturing is simple, but it cannot accommodate different food densities and cooking times

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidfood type adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The packet design incorporates adjustable thermal breachability parameters that can be modified to match different food types and cooking requirements. By changing the material composition or structural parameters of the packet, the same basic design can accommodate various food densities and cooking times without requiring completely different packet designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The packet system is designed with universal adaptability through adjustable breach characteristics. A single packet design platform can serve multiple food types by modifying the thermal breach parameters, allowing the same manufacturing process to produce packets suitable for different cooking scenarios while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Ensures consistent and timely sauce distribution, enhancing the flavor experience by allowing sauce to mingle with food throughout the heating process, customizable for various food densities and cooking times.

Implementation Method 1

When the pressure from the expanding sauce reaches a breach threshold, the packet breaches open

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

When the pressure from the expanding sauce reaches a breach threshold, the packet breaches open

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure increase: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

dispensing sauce onto the food in a microwave oven

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave heating: Microwave Radiation

Implementation Method 4

heating food and dispensing sauce onto the food in a microwave oven

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11242188B2Stand-up pouch with breachable sauce packet

Publication Date: 2022.02.08 UNITED SOURCE PACKAGING LLC

AI summary

Disclosed are disposable containers, such as a stand-up pouch, for heating food in a microwave oven and while automatically dispensing sauce onto the food. Methods and apparatuses for making sauce packets and disposable containers are also disclosed.