Flexible Pouch with Foldable Collar for Guided Substance Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pouch designs, particularly those intended for female urinary applications, face challenges in effectively guiding substances into the pouch and preventing leakage, as they are either rigid or lack sufficient guidance mechanisms, making them unsuitable for storage and use in compact spaces.

Innovation Solution

A flexible pouch with a collar that can adopt a flat configuration and transform into a channel with a nose-shaped end portion, featuring secondary fold lines and a sliding edge to enhance substance guidance and prevent leakage, allowing for efficient use as a female urinal while maintaining storage flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pouch uses a rigid collar design to guide substances effectively, then substance guidance is improved, but storage flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstance guidanceVSAvoidstorage flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is designed to be dynamic, transitioning from a flat configuration during storage to a three-dimensional channel-forming configuration during use. The fold lines enable the collar to dynamically change shape, providing effective substance guidance only when needed, while maintaining storage flexibility in the flat state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The collar can be folded into a compact flat configuration that nests within or alongside the bag, enabling efficient storage. When deployed, it expands into its functional three-dimensional form, effectively guiding substances into the pouch without requiring separate storage space for the collar structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the collar is made flexible for compact storage, then storage flexibility is improved, but substance guidance capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage flexibilityVSAvoidsubstance guidance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The collar transitions from a flexible flat state during storage to a rigid channel-forming state during use. The fold lines and wall deformations enable the collar to dynamically gain structural rigidity when substances are being inserted, providing effective guidance while maintaining flexibility during storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The collar's physical parameters change between storage and use states. During storage, it maintains a flat configuration with reduced structural rigidity. During use, the walls are deformed to create a convex shape with increased rigidity, effectively guiding substances into the pouch through the formed channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the collar walls are deformed into convex shape to form channel, then substance guidance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstance guidanceVSAvoidcollar formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is segmented with predetermined fold lines that divide it into manageable sections. These fold lines serve as hinges that guide the deformation process, making it easier to form the convex channel shape during use without requiring complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fold lines are pre-formed during manufacturing, preparing the collar for subsequent deformation into its functional shape. This preliminary action during manufacturing simplifies the later use-phase deformation, as the fold lines already provide the necessary structural guidance for forming the convex channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If the pouch uses thin flexible sheets for the bag, then flexibility is improved, but structural stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bag is constructed from thin flexible sheets that provide the necessary flexibility for storage and handling. The reinforcing collar with its deformable walls provides structural stability where needed, creating a composite structure that combines the advantages of both flexible materials and structurally supportive elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the thin flexible bag with a reinforcing collar that has deformable walls. The bag provides flexibility and containment, while the collar provides structural support and substance guidance. Together, they create a unified structure that achieves both flexibility and structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10413138B2Flexible bag with opening sleeve with spout

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 M3AT

AI summary

The pouch (10) comprises a flexible bag (12) having an opening (12A) with its edge fastened to two opposite walls (20A, 20B) of a reinforcing collar (18) projecting out from the bag, the pouch being suitable for adopting a flat configuration in which the collar is folded along a main fold line (17) connecting together its walls so that said walls are situated one against the other, and a utilization configuration in which the walls form a channel holding the opening open. The main fold line (17) presents an end portion (17A) opposite from the opening that projects laterally outwards, such that in the utilization configuration, the collar presents a nose defined by said end portion.