Elliptical Side Panel Dispenser for Compact Folded Tissue Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable dispensers for tissue products are not durable enough to withstand repeated use, often fail to maintain tissue size integrity due to multiple folds, and are not convenient for quick use, leading to user dissatisfaction.

Innovation Solution

A flexible sheet material dispenser with elliptically shaped side panels that maintain rigidity and resiliency, allowing for compact storage and easy dispensing of large tissue sheets, featuring a dispensing opening with a major axis parallel to the top and bottom edges and a lid attached by a hinge closer to the bottom edge, facilitating one-handed use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If tissue products are folded multiple times to fit in compact portable dispensers, then the dispenser size is reduced and portability is improved, but the tissue size integrity is compromised and user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispenser sizeVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tissue sheet is segmented into multiple folded sections (first folded section, second folded section, third folded section) that can be sequentially dispensed. The dispenser is also segmented with separate compartments for different tissue products, allowing organized storage and easy access without unfolding multiple times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tissue products are arranged in a vertical stack within the dispenser rather than being folded multiple times in the same plane. This dimensional reorganization allows full-size tissues to be stored compactly while maintaining their integrity for quick dispensing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional closure devices are used in portable dispensers, then initial sealing is achieved, but durability under repeated use is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure deviceVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closure device incorporates a curved or rounded geometry that distributes stress more evenly during repeated opening and closing operations, preventing failure at sharp corners and improving overall durability while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Volume of moving object

If folded tissue configuration is used, then compact storage is achieved, but quick access and adequate tissue size are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage compactnessVSAvoiddispensing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The tissue products are pre-positioned in the dispenser with the leading edge of the top tissue product accessible through the dispensing opening. This preliminary arrangement allows users to immediately grasp and dispense a tissue without unfolding or searching, eliminating time loss while maintaining compact storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10611541B2Flexible dispenser for compact stack of folded tissues

Publication Date: 2020.04.07 KIMBERLY CLARK WORLDWIDE INC

AI summary

The invention provides a sheet material dispenser and more particularly a dispenser for storing and dispensing a compact stack of folded tissue products. The compact stack of folded tissues may be secured by the tension of a pair of opposed side panels having a generally elliptical shape. The elliptically shaped side panels result in a rigid, resilient frame-work such that the dispenser has sufficient resiliency to maintain its shape even after a portion of the folded tissue products have been dispensed.