Cleaning Formulation for Reusable Water Containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reusable water bottles and hydration systems are prone to mold, bacteria contamination, and staining, making them difficult to clean effectively due to their design and materials, and existing cleaning solutions often rely on harsh chemicals.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning composition comprising oxidizing agents, weak acids, and surfactants, such as combinations of non-ionic and anionic surfactants, which provides effective disinfection and cleaning without the use of harsh chemicals, suitable for a wide range of applications including water bottles and hydration systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If harsh chemicals are used for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but safety and environmental friendliness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidsafety and environmental friendliness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning formulation by using oxidizing agents (sodium percarbonate, hydrogen peroxide) and weak acids (citric acid, lactic acid) instead of traditional harsh chemicals. These substances provide effective cleaning through oxidation and chelation mechanisms while being safer and more environmentally friendly, directly resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite cleaning formulation containing multiple components: oxidizing agents, weak acids, and surfactants (both anionic and non-ionic). This composite approach combines the strengths of different substance classes to achieve superior cleaning effectiveness while maintaining safety and environmental compatibility, addressing both sides of the contradiction simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If reusable water bottles and hydration systems are used, then convenience is improved, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconvenienceVSAvoidmold and bacteria contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes strong oxidizing agents (sodium percarbonate, hydrogen peroxide) to eliminate mold and bacteria contamination in reusable water bottles and hydration systems. The oxidation process effectively kills microorganisms and breaks down organic contaminants, thereby reducing contamination risk while maintaining the convenience of reusable containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #38Strong oxidants (Accelerated oxidation)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning formulation is designed to be used directly in the water bottles and hydration systems without requiring disassembly or special equipment. Users simply add the cleaning tablets or powder to the container, fill with water, shake, and rinse, allowing the system to clean itself and eliminating the need for separate cleaning processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If complex cleaning formulations are used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but ease of use deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidease of use

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple cleaning agents (oxidizing agents, weak acids, and surfactants) into a single integrated cleaning tablet or powder formulation. This merging of components simplifies the user experience while maintaining the synergistic cleaning effectiveness of all ingredients, resolving the contradiction between complex formulation and ease of use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning formulation is designed to be universally applicable to various water containers and hydration systems regardless of material or design. The multi-functional formulation addresses different types of contamination (mold, bacteria, stains, odors) and works with different container materials, providing effective cleaning without requiring different products for different applications.

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

The composition effectively removes stains, odors, and microorganisms, exhibiting antimicrobial properties, and is environmentally friendly, providing fast and safe cleaning without the need for rinsing in many cases.

Implementation Method 1

The builder components include, for example, various oxidizing agents and various weak acids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

Surfactants such as, for example, non-ionic surfactants and anionic surfactants can be used

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

The builder components include, for example, various oxidizing agents and various weak acids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcid-base reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS9873855B2Cleaning formulations and uses thereof

Publication Date: 2018.01.23 HYDRAPAK LLC

AI summary

Cleaning compositions and methods of using such compositions. The compositions comprise oxidizing agent(s); weak acid(s), and surfactant(s) (e.g., a combination of short-chain non-ionic surfactant(s) and long-chain non-ionic surfactant(s) or a combination of short-chain anionic surfactant(s) and long-chain anionic surfactant(s)). The compositions can be used to clean objects such as reusable water containers, home seltzer-maker bottles, hydration bladders, coffee mugs, etc.