Flexible Laminate Containers with Gas Barrier and Sealable Layers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rigid containers for fluent products are expensive to produce, require significant materials, are difficult to decorate, prone to damage, and challenging to dispense from, especially for users with limited hand strength.
Innovation Solution
Flexible containers made from laminated materials with a gas barrier layer and sealable layers, configured with novel support structures that reduce material usage and allow for easy decoration and dispensing, while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid containers are used for fluent products, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible laminate materials with multiple layers including barrier layers, sealable layers, and reinforcement layers to create containers that are both structurally sound and material-efficient. The flexible material configuration provides sufficient strength while using less material than conventional rigid containers, directly resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite laminate structures combining different materials (e.g., metalized layers, polymer layers, barrier layers) to achieve optimal balance between strength, flexibility, and cost. This composite approach allows the container to have high structural integrity where needed while reducing overall material usage and manufacturing cost.
2Strength
If rigid containers are used for fluent products, then structural integrity is improved, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible laminate structure achieves sufficient structural integrity with thinner walls compared to rigid containers, directly reducing material usage. The multi-layer design provides strength through material composition rather than wall thickness, resolving the contradiction between maintaining strength and reducing material consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
By using composite laminate materials with high strength-to-thickness ratios, the patent creates containers that maintain structural integrity while using significantly less material than conventional rigid containers, addressing the material usage concern.
3Strength
If rigid containers are used for fluent products, then structural integrity is improved, but ease of decoration worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible outer surface of the laminate container provides an ideal substrate for decoration methods such as printing, stamping, or embossing, while the underlying laminate structure maintains structural integrity. This resolves the contradiction by allowing easy decoration on the flexible surface without compromising strength.
4Strength
If rigid containers are used for fluent products, then structural integrity is improved, but ease of operation worsens for dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible container allows dynamic deformation during dispensing operations, enabling users to squeeze and manipulate the container easily to control product flow. The laminate structure maintains integrity during these dynamic operations while providing the flexibility needed for easy user operation, resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of dispensing.
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
Flexible containers are cost-effective, use less material, are easier to decorate, less prone to damage, and allow for controlled dispensing of fluent products, while maintaining the ability to withstand handling and environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible material can include a first laminate comprising a first gas barrier layer disposed between first and second sealable layers, wherein the first and second sealable layers define opposed exterior layers of the first laminate
Implementation Method 2
which can create tension in the one or more flexible materials, to form an expanded structural support volume
Implementation Method 3
a first laminate comprising a first gas barrier layer disposed between first and second sealable layers
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A flexible material for a flexible container can include a first laminate and a second laminate joined to at least a portion of the first laminate by at least one seal. The first laminate can include a first gas barrier layer disposed between first and second sealable layers, wherein the first and second sealable layers define opposed exterior layers of the first laminate. The second laminate can include a third sealable layer defining an exterior layer of the second laminate, and a second gas barrier layer. The at least one seal joins a portion of the third sealable layer to at least a portion of the second sealable layer.