Container Packaging Radial Fold Valve Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container packaging solutions cannot be filled easily and do not ensure complete removal of contents, as they require air venting through a valve in the opposite direction during filling and fail to maintain a constant, aesthetically pleasing external shape after emptying.

Innovation Solution

A container packaging design featuring a plastically deformable inner container with a radial fold and an elastically deformable outer container, equipped with a one-way valve that allows air to enter the space between the containers upon emptying, ensuring the inner container can collapse completely and maintain the outer shape, with the inner container jacket overlapping to provide excess material for deformation and a sealed connection to prevent oxidation and moisture entry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a valve is introduced to allow air to enter the intermediate space during emptying, then the outer container can return to its original shape, but the filling process becomes complex as the valve must be flowed through in the opposite direction to its intended opening direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveouter container shapeVSAvoidfilling process
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The valve is designed to open in the opposite direction during filling compared to its opening direction during emptying. During filling, the valve opens in reverse to allow air to escape from the intermediate space, and during emptying, it opens in the intended direction to allow air to enter and restore the outer container shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The single valve structure serves dual functions: it allows air to escape during filling (when opened in reverse) and allows air to enter during emptying (when opened in the intended direction). This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling both shape restoration and simplified filling through one component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the inner container is made plastically deformable to collapse completely under pressure, then the contents can be emptied easily, but the filling material cannot be removed completely with existing designs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemptying processVSAvoidfilling material removal
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The inner container is designed with specific material properties and structural features (radial fold, overlapping jacket) that enable it to undergo complete plastic deformation. The material parameters and geometric parameters are optimized to allow the container to collapse fully under pressure, ensuring complete emptying of contents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The radial fold and overlapping jacket design creates curved, flexible structures that facilitate complete collapse of the inner container. The curved geometry allows the container walls to fold and compress efficiently, enabling total evacuation of contents without leaving residual material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of operation

If the inner container jacket has a radial fold and overlaps with itself, then excess material is available for complete deformation, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeformation capabilityVSAvoidinner container structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inner container jacket is designed as a flexible thin-walled structure with a radial fold that allows it to deform completely under pressure. The overlapping configuration provides excess material that enables the shell to collapse fully while maintaining structural integrity during deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The radial fold divides the container wall into overlapping segments that can deform independently. This segmentation allows the structure to collapse in a controlled manner, with each segment folding and compressing to enable complete emptying while managing the complexity through modular deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3589556B1Container packaging and method for its manufacturing
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 LINHARDT GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3589556B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a container packaging (1) comprising a plastically deformable inner container (2), having an inner container jacket (3) and an inner container shoulder (4), for receiving a filling material, wherein the inner container shoulder (4) has a dispensing portion (5) having a dispensing opening (6). The container packaging additionally comprises a resiliently deformable outer container (7) having an outer container jacket (8), an outer container shoulder (9) and at least one valve (10), wherein the outer container shoulder (9) comprises an outer container nipple (11) having an outer container opening (12). The inner container (2) is arranged completely within the outer container (7), the dispensing portion (5) extends into the outer container nipple (11), and the dispensing portion (5) is connected to the outer container nipple (11) in a manner sealed with respect to the outer atmosphere. The valve (1) makes it possible to connect the space (13) arranged between the inner container (2) and the outer container (7) to the outer atmosphere. The inner container jacket (3) has a radial fold (14) and the inner container jacket (3) is formed in a self-overlapping manner in the region of the radial fold (14).