Frozen Confection Pouch with Star-Shaped Aperture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pouch-based systems for dispensing frozen confections face challenges in recyclability due to multi-material construction and consumer preference for an attractive shape, which is not met by simple orifices or spouts.
Innovation Solution
A flexible pouch with a deformable wall containing a frozen confection, featuring a product outlet in the form of a star-shaped or intersecting slits aperture at the top end, allowing for deformation-induced extrusion into a fluted shape without a spout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spout is used as the product outlet, then controlled dispensing is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of recycling increase due to multi-material construction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the spout component from the pouch system entirely. Instead of using a separate spout attachment that requires multiple materials, the product outlet is formed directly as an aperture in the pouch wall itself. This elimination of the spout component directly resolves the contradiction by simplifying the structure to single-material construction while maintaining dispensing functionality through the deformable wall mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the product outlet function directly into the pouch wall structure. The aperture is formed integrally in the pouch wall rather than being a separate spout component. This merging eliminates the need for multi-material construction and complex assembly, allowing the pouch to be made from a single recyclable material while still providing controlled dispensing through wall deformation.
2Device complexity
If a simple orifice is used as the product outlet, then device complexity is reduced, but the shape of extruded frozen confection becomes unattractive to consumers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by giving the aperture a specific star-shaped geometry rather than a simple circular orifice. This localized geometric feature at the outlet creates the desired fluted shape in the extruded confection, while the rest of the pouch structure remains simple and single-material. The star-shaped aperture with multiple points directly imprints the fluted pattern on the product during extrusion.
3Ease of operation
If the pouch wall is made deformable to enable extrusion, then ease of operation is improved, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies dynamics by designing the pouch wall with differential mechanical properties. The wall is constructed to be deformable in the regions where force is applied (the body of the pouch) while maintaining sufficient structural integrity to contain the frozen confection and support the aperture. The deformability is localized to enable extrusion action, while the overall structure maintains strength through appropriate material selection and wall thickness design.
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 solution simplifies the pouch structure, making it easier to recycle, while providing an aesthetically appealing fluted shape that meets consumer preferences and avoids issues like ice cream plugs in spouts.
Implementation Method 1
the wall is deformable such that deformation of the wall urges the frozen confection towards the outlet enabling at least a portion of the frozen confection to be extruded through the outlet
Implementation Method 2
the product outlet is an aperture that is shaped so as to be capable of forming the extruded frozen confection into a fluted shape
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3~4b
AI summary
A pouch containing frozen confection comprising a wall delimiting a cavity containing the frozen confection and extending in a longitudinal direction from a base end to a top end of the pouch, wherein the base end comprises a gusset extending in a transverse direction, and the top end comprises a top edge extending in the transverse direction; and a product outlet through which the frozen confection can be extruded from the cavity, the product outlet being an aperture in the top end of the wall, wherein the wall is deformable such that deformation of the wall urges the frozen confection towards the outlet enabling at least a portion of the frozen confection to be extruded through the outlet; and wherein the product outlet is an aperture that is shaped so as to be capable of forming the extruded frozen confection into a fluted shape.