Dual Purpose Snack Packaging with Inverted Waste Bag
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional snack food packaging lacks a convenient container for inedible waste, leading to environmental litter and hygiene issues, as consumers often discard inedible remnants like sunflower seed shells on the ground due to the absence of suitable disposal options during consumption.
Innovation Solution
A dual-purpose snack food refill and disposal packaging system comprising a flexible bag sealed within a ring, forming an air-tight and water-tight barrier, which can be inserted into a squeezable container to separate fresh food from inedible waste, providing a convenient and sanitary disposal solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional simple plastic bags with Ziploc seals are used for snack food packaging, then the packaging keeps snack food fresh between consumption periods, but the packaging does not provide a convenient container for collecting residual waste material
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging system is designed to perform multiple functions: the flexible bag serves both as the original snack food container and as a waste receptacle for collecting inedible remnants. The ring structure provides structural support while the bag can be inverted to collect waste, eliminating the need for separate waste containers and keeping the system simple yet multi-functional.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible waste-collecting bag is nested within the rigid ring structure, creating a compact integrated system. The bag can be inverted inside the ring to form a waste receptacle, with the ring providing structural support while the bag provides the collection volume, effectively nesting two functional elements in a space-efficient manner.
2Adaptability or versatility
If consumers discard inedible food remnants on the ground due to lack of convenient disposal options, then consumers can consume food freely in public locations, but environmental litter and hygiene issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible bag in the packaging system serves dual purposes: initially containing the snack food and later serving as a portable waste receptacle for collecting inedible remnants. This multi-functionality enables consumers to carry their own waste container to any location, eliminating the need for external trash cans and preventing littering while maintaining consumption freedom in public spaces.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cleaning crews use vacuum equipment to collect shells and waste remnants from public facilities, then the facilities are kept clean, but the equipment must be routinely replaced from wear and tear which is a substantial expense
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging system enables consumers to perform preliminary waste collection at the source by inverting the flexible bag to catch inedible remnants as they are consumed. This preliminary action prevents waste from being scattered on the ground in the first place, eliminating the need for subsequent cleaning operations and avoiding equipment wear and replacement costs.
4Ease of operation
If spitting shells out of one's mouth to the ground is practiced, then consumers can easily dispose of waste, but hygiene and cleanliness concerns are raised
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible bag serves as an intermediary container between the consumer's mouth and the final waste disposal location. Instead of spitting directly onto the ground, consumers can deposit shells into the inverted bag, which acts as a hygienic intermediate receptacle. This maintains ease of disposal while preventing direct contamination of the environment and reducing hygiene concerns.
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 packaging keeps snack food fresh, serves as a convenient receptacle for inedible waste, reducing environmental litter and improving hygiene by containing residual waste within the packaging, allowing for easy disposal and reuse, thus addressing the need for a dual-use solution.
Implementation Method 1
a ring seal provided at least partially in contact with the flexible bag, the ring seal configured to couple the flexible bag to the ring and to form an impervious air-tight and water-tight barrier
Implementation Method 2
a top seal coupled to the first end of the ring, the top seal configured to form an impervious air-tight and water-tight barrier for the inner volume of the flexible bag
Data Source
AI summary
A dual purpose food packaging refill and waste receptacle is disclosed. The receptacle is substantially impervious to passage of oxygen and water, thus, preserving freshness of snack foods, such as sunflower seeds or nuts. The receptacle includes a food grade bag affixed to pliable or semi-rigid cylinder that may be sealed at the opening. Once the receptacle is opened and the contents extracted, such as being emptied into a separate container, the packaging serves as a receptacle for residual material that is inedible or otherwise disposable by the consumer.