Flexible Pouch Dispensing System for Detergent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detergent dispensing systems require significant amounts of plastic, contributing to environmental sustainability issues, and are not easily disposable due to their rigid structure.

Innovation Solution

A compact dispensing system using a flexible pouch made from sheet material or film, which reduces plastic usage and allows for easier disposal by flattening when empty, combined with a trigger sprayer for controlled product distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rigid plastic bottles are used for dispensing detergent, then structural strength and stability are improved, but plastic consumption increases and disposal difficulty worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidplastic consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid plastic bottles with flexible pouches made from thin film materials. The pouches maintain sufficient structural strength through their design and material properties while consuming significantly less plastic material, directly resolving the contradiction between structural strength and plastic consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable flexible pouches that are inexpensive to manufacture and can be easily discarded after use. This approach accepts reduced longevity in exchange for dramatically reduced material consumption and improved environmental sustainability, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and plastic consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Stability of the object's composition

If rigid plastic bottles are used for dispensing detergent, then structural stability is improved, but ease of disposal worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of disposal

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible pouch design allows the container to be easily flattened and compressed when empty, making disposal extremely convenient. The pouch maintains adequate structural stability during use through its design while enabling easy disposal afterward, directly resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of disposal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch transitions from a rigid, stable structure during use to a flexible, compressible form for disposal. This dynamic adaptability allows the container to provide structural stability when needed and ease of disposal when empty, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of substance

If flexible pouches are used to reduce plastic consumption, then plastic usage is reduced, but structural strength may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplastic usageVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses specifically engineered thin film materials that provide sufficient structural strength despite their reduced thickness and material quantity. The film composition and pouch design work together to maintain necessary strength while minimizing plastic usage, directly resolving this contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch employs composite film structures that combine different materials or layers to achieve optimal strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the pouch to use minimal plastic material while maintaining adequate structural strength for dispensing operations, resolving the contradiction between plastic usage and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Loss of substance

If flexible pouches are used to reduce plastic consumption, then eco-sustainability is improved, but manufacturing complexity may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplastic usageVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch is manufactured using continuous film forming and sealing processes that are actually simpler than traditional rigid bottle manufacturing. The flexible pouch design eliminates the need for complex molding operations, caps, and rigid assembly, reducing manufacturing complexity while minimizing plastic usage and improving eco-sustainability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS20240335849A1Dispensing system

Publication Date: 2024.10.10 SEBASTIANI GIACOMO

AI summary

A system for dispensing a liquid product, including:a pouch, made from film material, including at least a first wall, a second wall and a base wall, the pouch including a first weld, a second weld and a third weld, the first wall, the second wall and the base wall delimiting a containing space holding the liquid product, the first wall and the second wall defining an opening in the pouch at the second end;a bushing inserted in the opening;a sprayer for dispensing the liquid product from the pouch, the sprayer being coupled to the bushing and comprising a pumping assembly, a lever for driving the pumping assembly, a diffuser unit in communication with the pumping assembly.