Collapsible Food Container Lid and Wall Structure for Complete Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disposable food pouches for infants and toddlers are environmentally detrimental due to single-use nature, while reusable containers face challenges with difficult filling, cleaning, and incomplete food expulsion, often requiring funnels and having trapped food residues.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible food container with a broad opening, flexible side walls, and a rigid base and lid design that allows easy filling, complete food expulsion, and efficient cleaning, featuring a hinge and latch mechanism for secure closure and ergonomic dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If single-use food pouches are used, then food dispensing is simple and convenient, but environmental harm increases due to waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by designing a single-use food pouch that is intentionally designed to be discarded after one use. The pouch includes a spout with a valve mechanism that allows controlled dispensing of food, and once the food is exhausted, the entire pouch is discarded. This resolves the contradiction by accepting the environmental cost of disposability in exchange for maintaining simple and convenient food dispensing operation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If reusable squeeze containers are used, then environmental harm is reduced, but filling difficulty increases due to small openings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the filling function from the dispensing function. The pouch has a large opening at the top specifically for filling that is distinct from the smaller spout used for dispensing. This allows the container to be easily filled while maintaining a controlled dispensing mechanism, thus resolving the contradiction between reusability and filling ease.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If reusable squeeze containers are used, then environmental harm is reduced, but cleaning difficulty increases due to trapped food residues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by designing the pouch as a single-use disposable item that is completely discarded after use. This eliminates the cleaning function entirely - instead of needing to clean the container, the entire pouch is thrown away with any remaining food residues. This resolves the contradiction by removing the cleaning requirement while maintaining environmental responsibility through reduced waste from incomplete food expulsion.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If reusable squeeze containers are used, then environmental harm is reduced, but food expulsion completeness worsens due to squeezing difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing a valve mechanism in the spout that automatically controls food dispensing. The valve opens when the pouch is squeezed and closes when pressure is released, allowing food to be dispensed without manual intervention. This ensures complete food expulsion as the valve mechanism continues to function until all food is exhausted, resolving the contradiction between reusability and food waste reduction.
5Loss of substance
If collapsible side walls are used, then food expulsion completeness is improved, but structural stability worsens during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible shells by using a collapsible pouch structure made of flexible material that can be compressed to expel food completely. The flexible nature of the pouch allows it to collapse as food is dispensed, ensuring no food is left behind. This resolves the contradiction between achieving complete food expulsion and maintaining structural stability, as the flexibility is precisely what enables complete emptying.
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
Facilitates easy filling and cleaning, ensures complete food expulsion, and reduces waste by providing a reusable option with improved usability and stability, suitable for infants, toddlers, and others consuming flowable foods.
Implementation Method 1
the container body is collapsible by pressure applied to the lid and the base in opposite directions
Implementation Method 2
or by suction applied at the spout by the person using the container
Implementation Method 3
the container lid is hinged to the container body
Implementation Method 4
with a latch that engages with the container body to hold the lid in the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A dispensable food container has a container body having an interior for receipt of dispensable food, and a container lid. The container body has a base and an opening opposite the base, and side walls that are collapsible. The lid has a closed condition in which it closes and seals the opening of the container body and an open condition in which the opening of the container body is exposed for access into the interior. The lid has a dispensing opening which is in communication with the interior of the container body when the lid is in the closed condition. In use, when the lid is in the closed condition, the container body is collapsible by pressure applied to the lid and the base in opposite directions to cause the side walls to collapse and to force dispensable food within the interior of the container body through the dispensing opening.