Dissolvable Detergent Pouch for Child Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current single-load detergent packets pose safety risks due to toxic ingredients, attractiveness to children, and environmental concerns, leading to severe health issues and increased exposure incidents, particularly among young children.

Innovation Solution

A dissolvable paper pouch made from Cellulose gum or Carboxymethyl Cellulose containing a hypoallergenic white powdered detergent without perfumes, brighteners, or fillers, which is non-toxic and biodegradable, replacing traditional clear plastic packets to ensure safety and environmental sustainability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional clear plastic detergent packets are used, then the detergent is effective for cleaning, but the packets contain toxic ingredients that harm health and the environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidtoxicity to humans and environment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes harmful toxic ingredients (bleaches, perfumes, brighteners, fillers) from the detergent formulation, extracting only the essential cleaning components (surfactants and water) to create a safe, non-toxic detergent that maintains cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the detergent by eliminating hazardous substances and using only safe, non-toxic ingredients, thereby transforming the product from harmful to safe while preserving cleaning function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If dissolvable plastic packets with coloring and branding are used, then the detergent is effective, but the packets resemble candy and attract children leading to poisoning incidents

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetergent functionalityVSAvoidchild attraction and poisoning risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates attractive coloring from the detergent packets, using only clear or neutral packaging that does not resemble candy, thereby removing the visual attraction that leads to child poisoning incidents while maintaining detergent effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful resemblance to candy into a benefit by deliberately designing the packaging to be unattractive and clearly distinguishable from food items, using the insight that children's attraction to candy-like appearance is the root cause of poisoning to create a safer alternative

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Power

If highly concentrated liquid detergent packets are used, then cleaning power is improved, but severe health reactions and hospitalizations occur when children ingest them

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning powerVSAvoidseverity of health reactions upon ingestion

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameters by creating a diluted, water-based detergent formulation that is non-toxic and safe for ingestion, eliminating the high concentration of harmful chemicals while maintaining adequate cleaning power for household use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If traditional detergent packets with fillers and brighteners are used, then the detergent performs well, but harmful ingredients remain on fabrics and household items after washing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidresidue on washed items

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes fillers, brighteners, and other non-essential additives from the detergent formulation, extracting only the necessary cleaning agents that rinse away completely, thereby eliminating harmful residues on fabrics and household items while maintaining cleaning performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 paper pouch system effectively detoxifies fabrics and household items while being safe for children and the environment, reducing the risk of poisoning and severe health reactions, and is designed to be non-attractive to children, thus addressing the safety and toxicity issues of traditional packets.

Implementation Method 1

The paper pouch dissolves upon contact with liquid water thereby releasing the powder detergent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS10927331B2Dissolvable detergent pouch and method

Publication Date: 2021.02.23 SUTHERLAND PRODUCTS INC

AI summary

A detergent pouch may be made from a dissolvable paper which completely dissolves upon contact with liquid water thereby releasing the detergent contained within the pouch. The dissolvable paper may be a Cellulose gum such as Carboxymethyl Cellulose. The dissolvable paper is free from any coloring, dyes, impurities and other toxins. The detergent may be laundry detergent such as Sodium Carbonate, C12-15 Pareth-2, and Sodium Metasilicate which is free from any fillers, perfumes, coloring agents, or brighteners. The paper pouch and the powder detergent may be safe for septic wastewater treatment systems, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic. The paper pouch may be non-toxic.