Frozen Confection Pouch Corner Outlet Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pouch-based packages for frozen confections, such as ice cream, often require excessive effort to extrude the confection and may lead to incomplete emptying or choked flow due to improper outlet placement and handling, which affects consumer convenience and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A flexible pouch design with a gusseted base end and a product outlet located at or near the corner of the top edge, along with a removable thermally-insulating sleeve, facilitates easy handling and complete dispensing by directing the dispensing force towards the outlet, reducing manual effort and promoting complete emptying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the product outlet is placed at the centre of the top edge, then the pouch structure is simple, but consumers are inclined to grip and squeeze the pouch at the side edges which directs the dispensing force both towards the top and base ends leading to choking of the flow and residual frozen confection
Solution Approach 1:
The product outlet is positioned at or proximal to a corner of the top edge rather than at the centre, creating an asymmetric configuration that guides consumer gripping behavior. This asymmetric placement ensures that squeezing forces are directed consistently towards the outlet, preventing flow choking and enabling complete emptying of the pouch.
2Ease of operation
If the pouch wall is made thin for flexibility, then the pouch is easier to squeeze, but the structural strength and ability to maintain shape during dispensing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch employs varying wall thicknesses at different locations: thinner walls in regions requiring flexibility for squeezing, and thicker walls at the gusseted base end and around the outlet to maintain structural integrity. This localized quality variation allows the pouch to be both easy to squeeze and structurally sound during dispensing.
3Quantity of substance
If the pouch is made larger to hold more servings, then the quantity of frozen confection increases, but the manual force required to dispense the frozen confection increases making it difficult to extrude
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch is designed with a gusseted base end that segments the structural support function from the dispensing function. The gusset provides a rigid foundation that maintains pouch shape and directs forces efficiently, allowing larger pouch capacities while keeping the actual squeezing effort required by the consumer manageable.
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 design allows for efficient and convenient dispensing of frozen confections with minimal effort, ensuring complete emptying and reducing the discomfort of handling cold surfaces, while the removable sleeve aids in hygiene and recycling.
Implementation Method 1
a removable thermally-insulating sleeve, facilitates easy handling and complete dispensing
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Disclosed is a packaged frozen confection (1) comprising a flexible pouch (2), wherein the pouch (2) comprises a wall (4) delimiting a cavity containing the frozen confection and extending in a longitudinal direction from a base end (6) to a top end (5) of the pouch. The top end (5) comprises a product outlet (8) through which the frozen confection can be extruded from the cavity. The base end (6) comprises a gusset (7) extending in a transverse direction, the top end (5) comprises a top edge (3) extending in the transverse direction, and the product outlet (8) is disposed at or proximal to a corner of the top edge (3). The wall (4) is deformable at least at the base end (6) of the pouch (2) to urge the frozen confection in the cavity towards the outlet (8) and extrude at least a portion of frozen confection therefrom.