Flexible Coffee Refill Container with Snap-In Coupling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Rigid containers for foodstuffs, such as coffee, are costly due to their material and can cause deterioration of contents when refilled, as loose coffee powder can come into contact with the tin's walls, leading to quality issues.

Innovation Solution

A refill container made of flexible material with coupling means, such as snap-in, bayonet, or tongue and groove types, that fits securely inside a rigid tin, preventing cross-contamination and allowing for easy refilling without compromising sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid tins are used to contain foodstuffs, then preservation capacity is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreservation capacityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The container system is divided into two separate components: a reusable rigid tin for structural integrity and sealing, and a disposable flexible refill container for holding foodstuffs. This segmentation allows the expensive rigid tin to be used multiple times while the cheaper flexible container is replaced, reducing overall cost while maintaining preservation capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible refill container is designed to be inserted inside the rigid tin, creating a nested structure. The flexible container fits within the rigid tin's internal compartment, combining the protective qualities of the rigid outer shell with the cost-effective flexible inner container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If loose coffee powder is refilled into the tin, then refilling convenience is improved, but cross-contamination occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefilling convenienceVSAvoidcross-contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible refill container serves as an intermediary between the user and the rigid tin. Instead of directly pouring loose coffee powder into the tin, the pre-filled flexible container is inserted into the tin, preventing direct contact between the coffee powder and the tin's inner wall where residues from previous contents could cause cross-contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the refill container is made of flexible material, then cost is reduced, but coupling stability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidcoupling stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling mechanism utilizes the dynamic properties of flexible material. The flexible refill container can deform during insertion to pass through the opening, then expands or maintains its shape inside the rigid tin to engage with coupling means, providing stable coupling without requiring rigid material for the refill container itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10131464B2Container for foodstuffs, in particular coffee

Publication Date: 2018.11.20 ILLYCAFFE S P A CON UNICO SOCIO

AI summary

A container for foodstuffs (10), in particular coffee, suitable to be used as a refill for a tin (20) having a peripheral wall (21) made of rigid material, which defines an internal compartment (22), comprises a central body (11) made of a flexible material and having external sizes substantially equal to, or a little smaller than, those of said internal compartment (22) of the tin (20). Coupling means (30) are provided to temporarily couple, in a removable manner, the central body (11) with the tin (20).