Expandable Ring Expander Device for Food Pouch Hygiene
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging solutions for consumer products, especially those requiring high hygiene and safety like food for infants, face challenges in maintaining product integrity and safety after opening, as they often lead to contamination, inefficient dosing, and increased ecological footprint due to single-use closing means.
Innovation Solution
An expander device with a ring member that converts between collapsed and expanded states to securely keep a pouch opening open, allowing easy access and reuse, reducing contamination risks and ecological impact by eliminating the need for separate closing materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a storage box is used to store remaining product after opening, then product can be stored for later use, but risk of contamination increases reducing product integrity and safety
Solution Approach 1:
The expander device acts as an intermediary element between the pouch opening and the user's hand/dosing device. It maintains the opening in an expanded state that allows access while physically separating the user from the product interior, reducing contamination risk. The device can be cleaned and reused, maintaining hygiene over multiple use cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The expander device is designed to be self-maintaining through its expandable structure. When inserted into the pouch opening, it automatically expands to maintain the opening state without requiring additional closing mechanisms or separate storage containers. The device serves both the opening maintenance and hygiene protection functions simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If the packaging is left open for easy access, then product can be easily retrieved, but hygiene level inside the packaging cannot be maintained over extended period
Solution Approach 1:
The expander device provides a dynamic solution by being insertable in a collapsed state and expandable to maintain the opening. This dynamic transformation allows the device to adapt between compact storage and functional opening maintenance states, enabling easy access while maintaining hygiene through controlled opening expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The expander device is designed as a reusable component that can be cleaned and restored to its expanded functional state multiple times. Instead of being discarded after single use like traditional closing means, the device is recovered, cleaned, and reused, maintaining hygiene levels over extended periods while preserving accessibility.
3Reliability
If closing means like clips, adhesive tape or rubber bands are used, then packaging can be closed, but ecological footprint increases due to single-use design
Solution Approach 1:
The expander device serves multiple functions: it maintains the pouch opening open, provides structural support for dosing, and acts as a reusable closing mechanism alternative. By consolidating these functions into a single reusable device, the solution eliminates the need for multiple single-use closing means, reducing ecological footprint while maintaining closing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The expander device is designed as a reusable component that replaces single-use closing means. After cleaning and maintenance, the device can be used multiple times, significantly reducing material consumption and ecological footprint compared to continuously producing and discarding single-use clips, tapes, or rubber bands.
4Ease of operation
If fingers or spoon handle are inserted to widen the opening for access, then access opening can be formed, but risk of contaminating the product increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expander device serves as a hygienic intermediary that replaces fingers or spoon handles in the task of widening the opening. The device's expandable structure allows it to be inserted and expanded without requiring direct contact with the product interior, thereby forming an access opening while minimizing contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The expander device performs the opening widening function autonomously through its expandable mechanism. When inserted in collapsed state and then expanded, it automatically creates the necessary opening space without requiring manual manipulation with contaminated objects, thus maintaining product hygiene while enabling easy access.
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 expander device ensures product safety and hygiene by maintaining access to the contents while reducing waste and ecological impact through reusable and washable design, improving dosing accuracy and product utilization.
Implementation Method 1
the fitment section is (circumferentially) fitted against the rim section to keep the pouch opening (by exerting a compressive force) open
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a package system (200), which comprises a pouch (400) for a food product and an expander device (100) for keeping a pouch opening (411) of the pouch (400) open. The expander device (100) comprises a ring member (110) with a central opening (111) that is surrounded by an outer circumferential fitment section (112), which faces away from the central opening (111). The ring member (110) is convertible between a collapsed constitution for being inserted into the pouch opening (411) and an expanded constitution for securing the pouch opening (411). Therein, an outer circumferential perimeter of the ring member (110) at the fitment section (112) is smaller in its collapsed constitution than in its expanded constitution. The expander device (100) is configured to be inserted in the collapsed constitution with the fitment section (112) into the pouch opening (411) to keep the pouch opening (411) open by fitment of the fitment section (112) against an inner side surface (413) of the pouch opening (411) when the ring member (110) is converted into the expanded constitution. The invention further relates to a method of using said package system (200).