Drinks Pouch Tear Line Geometry for Spillage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinks pouch designs often result in spillage when attempting to access the straw, as the tear line can extend beyond the intended area, causing the contents to spill, and users may inadvertently touch the remaining top edge with their nose while drinking.
Innovation Solution
A fully sealed pouch design with a predetermined tear line in the extended corner portion, where the front and rear faces are sealed, allowing the tear to be constrained within this area, and the straw is positioned to avoid nose contact with the top edge during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a corner portion is torn off to access the straw, then the straw can be reached, but spillage occurs when the tear extends beyond the intended area
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch is segmented into a removable corner portion and a main body. The corner portion contains the straw and is designed to be torn off separately along a predetermined tear line, allowing the straw to be accessed without spilling the drink contents in the main body.
Solution Approach 2:
A predetermined tear line is pre-defined in the corner portion to guide the tearing action. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that when the user tears the corner to access the straw, the tear follows the intended path and does not extend into the main body, preventing spillage.
2Loss of substance
If a small corner portion is removed to access the straw, then spillage is reduced, but the user's nose contacts the remaining top edge during use
Solution Approach 1:
The corner portion is extended in a specific geometric configuration that adds spatial dimension to the design. This extended corner provides sufficient straw accessibility while positioning the remaining top edge at a distance that prevents nose contact during drinking, solving both spillage reduction and user comfort issues.
3Ease of operation
If the tear line is allowed to extend freely, then the corner can be easily removed, but the tear may continue across the top or down the side causing spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch structure has different local properties: the corner portion is designed with a predetermined tear line for easy removal, while the main body maintains structural integrity. The tear line is strategically positioned to allow easy corner removal while the sealed edges and heat seals in the main body prevent uncontrolled tear propagation, ensuring reliability.
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 design effectively reduces spillage by confining the tear line to a predetermined path and ensures that the user can access the straw without contacting the remaining top edge, enhancing usability and reducing litter.
Implementation Method 1
a top edge where the front face and the rear face are sealed to each other, a first side edge extending from the top edge to the bottom portion, the front face being sealed to the rear face along the first side edge
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A fully sealed pouch contains a drink and a straw. The pouch has a front face and a rear face, and defines: a top edge where the front face and the rear face are sealed to each other, a bottom portion where the front face and the rear face are connected to each other optionally via a gusset, a first side edge extending from the top edge to the bottom portion, the front face being sealed to the rear face along the first side edge, and a second side edge also extending from the top edge to the bottom portion, the front face and the rear face either being continuous with each other or sealed to each other at the second side edge, and an extended corner portion defined between the top edge and the first side edge. The interior volume of the pouch is divided into a minor portion adjacent the first edge and extending into the extended corner portion, and a major portion communicating with the minor portion. The front face and the rear face are sealed to each other throughout the extended corner portion except where the minor portion extends into the extended corner portion. The straw is located in the minor portion with an end thereof extending into the extended corner portion. A predetermined tear line is defined in the extended corner portion along a line that extends from a position at or adjacent the first side edge, across the minor portion where it extends into the extended comer portion, and along a curved path to or adjacent to the top edge at a position spaced from the join between the top edge and the first side. The tear line constrains a user seeking access to the straw readily to tear therealong to expose the end of the straw and to allow the user thereafter to drink from the pouch via the straw.