Self-Standing Flexible Container With Rigid Annular Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging containers face challenges in achieving both strength and disposability, particularly for contents with low fluidity like creams and solids, as they often lack sufficient loading efficiency, impact resistance, and design aesthetics, while being bulky or vulnerable to impacts.

Innovation Solution

A self-standing container design featuring a flexible tubular member bonded with an annular member and a lid member, allowing for easy opening and closing, reinforced with a hinge or screw mechanism, and constructed from laminated materials for enhanced strength and disposability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If a flexible laminated sheet container is used, then the container is lightweight and has excellent disposability, but the loading efficiency is poor and the container strength is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer weightVSAvoidcontainer strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The container combines a flexible laminated sheet body with a rigid annular member made of resin. This composite structure integrates the advantages of both materials: the laminated sheet provides light weight and disposability, while the resin annular member provides structural strength and rigidity, particularly at the opening portion where mechanical stress occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The container is divided into distinct functional components: a flexible laminated sheet body for containment and disposal, and a separate rigid annular member for structural support and opening/closing operations. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a wide mouth design is implemented, then contents with low fluidity can be easily taken out, but the container strength and impact resistance decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of content removalVSAvoidimpact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The annular member made of rigid resin provides structural reinforcement at the opening portion, maintaining container strength and impact resistance even with a wide mouth design. The rigid material compensates for the reduced structural integrity that would otherwise result from the larger opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The rigid annular member is strategically positioned only at the opening portion where it is most needed for structural support during opening/closing operations and for maintaining wide mouth geometry. The rest of the container body remains flexible and lightweight, optimizing the distribution of material properties based on local functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Weight of moving object

If paper cartons are used, then the container is lightweight and has stable shape, but the interlayer strength is inferior and the container is vulnerable to impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer weightVSAvoidimpact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces paper-based composite structures with a flexible laminated sheet combined with a rigid resin annular member. This material substitution provides superior impact resistance and structural strength while maintaining light weight, as the resin material has higher mechanical strength-to-weight ratio than paperboard.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Strength

If molded containers such as blow bottles are used, then the container has high strength, but the container is bulky when discarded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer strengthVSAvoiddiscarded container volume
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the container into a flexible collapsible body and a rigid annular member, the design allows the main body to be compressed to minimal volume after use while the annular member maintains sufficient structural integrity for handling and disposal. This enables significant volume reduction compared to fully rigid molded containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible laminated sheet body can be collapsed and compressed to a fraction of its original volume after contents are removed, whereas molded containers maintain their rigid shape and occupy the same volume regardless of contents. The thin film structure enables compact disposal while the rigid annular member provides necessary strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 container achieves both strength and disposability by providing a wide mouth design that is self-standing, easy to open, and resistant to impacts, while being lightweight and environmentally friendly, suitable for various contents including liquids, solids, and powders.

Implementation Method 1

an annular member (11) which is bonded to the container body (1)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a lid member (12) which seals the opening part (2a) to be openable and closable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP3995409B1container
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 FUJIMORI KOGYO CO LTD
  • EP3995409B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3995409B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3995409B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A self-standing packaging container capable of achieving both strength and disposability even if the container has a wide mouth is provided. A container according to the present invention includes: a container body (1) that has an opening part (2a) at an upper end of a tubular member (2); an annular member(11) that is bonded to the upper end of the tubular member (2); and a lid member (12) that seals the opening part (2a) to be openable and closable. The container body (1) has a bottom surface member that is bonded to the tubular member (2) at a bottom surface part of the tubular member (2). The tubular member (2) is constituted by a flexible laminated body of three or more layers including a barrier layer and a resin layer. The lid member (12) is coupled to the annular member (11) by any of a hinge, fitting, and a screw to be openable and closable.