Flexible Material Package Reinforcing Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible material packages with gripping means often deteriorate under weight forces, leading to tears, and existing solutions like thicker materials increase costs and waste, making them unsustainable.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a reinforcing element positioned above the gripping means within a welded area to enhance resistance, allowing the gripping means to support the package and prevent tears without the need for additional material thickness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the package uses thicker flexible material to increase resistance to loads, then the strength of the package is improved, but the cost of the package increases and material waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to loadsVSAvoidmaterial waste

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The package structure is segmented into different functional zones: a first welded area at the upper end containing the reinforcing element for strength, and the rest of the package body using thinner flexible material. This segmentation allows the package to have increased load resistance only where needed (at the gripping means location) while using less material overall, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and material waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the package uses thicker flexible material to increase resistance to loads, then the strength of the package is improved, but the cost of the package increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to loadsVSAvoidcost of the package

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The package is manufactured with a localized reinforcing element only in the first welded area at the upper end, rather than using thick material throughout the entire package. This segmentation reduces material costs while maintaining the necessary strength at the gripping means location, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If the package uses a reinforcing element positioned above the gripping means, then the resistance to weight forces is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to weight forcesVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing element is merged with the first welded area, and the welding process simultaneously performs two functions: closing the package and positioning the reinforcing element. This merging of functions reduces the overall device complexity despite adding the reinforcing element, as it eliminates the need for separate positioning mechanisms or additional manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11584578B2Flexible material packages

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 ICA SPA

AI summary

A flexible material package (100, 200) is presented comprising a reinforcing element (3) and a first sealed area (103) positioned close to the upper end of the package (100, 200) and preferably configured so as to close the package (100, 200), wherein the reinforcing element (3) is at least partially positioned within the first sealed area (103), the package (100, 200) further comprising gripping means positioned vertically below the reinforcing element (3) and configured so as to be used to support the package (100, 200). A closing method, a filling method and a formation method of the package (100, 200) are also presented.