Cardboard Detergent Packaging Overlapping Side Surfaces Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detergent and cleaning agent packaging solutions face challenges in ensuring transportation and storage stability, particularly for tablets, which are prone to physical breakage and chemical instability due to hygroscopy, and also pose ecological concerns due to non-biodegradable materials.

Innovation Solution

A detergent supply form featuring a cardboard outer packaging with a high fill-level, designed as a single-piece folding box with overlapping side surfaces, using corrugated cardboard for enhanced stability and recyclability, and potentially incorporating biodegradable hydrophobizing coatings to prevent moisture ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If individual flow pack packaging with water-insoluble polymer films is used to ensure transportation and storage stability, then physical and chemical stability is improved, but ecological sustainability deteriorates due to non-biodegradable materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransportation and storage stabilityVSAvoidecological harm from non-biodegradable materials

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from non-biodegradable polymer films to biodegradable packaging materials, while maintaining the protective function through optimized packaging structure and moisture barrier properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs single-use biodegradable packaging that can be easily disposed of after use, replacing durable non-biodegradable flow packs with environmentally friendly alternatives that serve their protective purpose and then decompose

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If individual flow pack packaging is used to prevent water absorption, then chemical stability is improved, but packaging material usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical stabilityVSAvoidpackaging material consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual flow packs into a single collective packaging unit containing multiple detergent tablets, reducing the total amount of packaging material while maintaining protection through a shared water vapor barrier

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging is segmented into a collective outer packaging with water vapor barrier and individual compartments or loose arrangement of tablets, allowing reduced material usage per tablet while maintaining overall chemical stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If high fill-level packaging is used to reduce packaging material, then ecological sustainability is improved, but transportation and storage stability deteriorates due to lack of cushioning air volume

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveecological impact from packaging materialVSAvoidtransportation and storage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates cushioning elements or structural features into the packaging design that provide protective cushioning without requiring large volumes of air, enabling high fill-level packaging while maintaining stability during transportation and storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Loss of substance

If cardboard packaging with high fill-level is used, then packaging material reduction is achieved, but physical stability against breakage deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging material reductionVSAvoidphysical stability against breakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite packaging structures combining cardboard with additional protective layers, coatings, or structural reinforcements that enhance physical stability and breakage resistance while maintaining the benefits of reduced packaging material and high fill-level design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution provides improved physical and chemical stability during transportation and storage, reduces packaging material usage, and promotes ecological sustainability by using recyclable and biodegradable materials, while maintaining product performance and consumer convenience.

Implementation Method 1

the overlapping of the side surfaces of the outer packagings characterizing the subject matter of the claim brings about an improvement in the storage and transportation stability of the shaped bodies

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping effect: Damping

Implementation Method 2

potentially incorporating biodegradable hydrophobizing coatings to prevent moisture ingress

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentUS20240067443A1Detergent presentation form

Publication Date: 2024.02.29 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

A detergent supply form includes an outer packaging made of cardboard in the form of a single-piece folding box having a bottom surface and four side surfaces hinged to the bottom surface, a top surface and at least three side surfaces hinged to the top surface, and cuboid detergent shaped bodies. The outer packaging has a fill-level of 85 vol % to 99 vol %, and in the closed state, the side surfaces of the outer packaging hinged to the top surface overlap with the side surfaces hinged to the bottom surface of the outer packaging.