Hard Taco Shell Base Plasticizing to Prevent Brittle Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hard taco shells tend to break apart easily at the base or lowermost section, leading to a messy eating experience with fillings falling out, as they are inherently brittle and lack structural integrity during consumption.
Innovation Solution
Applying a plasticizing agent, such as glycerin, to the base or spine portion of the taco shell to soften and make it flexible, with optional use of a migration limiting agent to confine the plasticizing agent to the targeted region, thereby enhancing hinging flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the taco shell is made hard to maintain shape and structure, then the shell can hold fillings effectively, but the shell becomes brittle and breaks easily at the base portion during consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a plasticizing agent specifically to the base portion of the taco shell, creating a localized flexible region while maintaining hardness in the sidewalls. This local differentiation allows the shell to maintain overall structural integrity while preventing brittle failure at the critical base area during consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the base portion by applying a plasticizing agent that modifies the material properties from hard and brittle to soft and flexible. This parameter change in the base portion allows it to deform elastically during biting rather than cracking, while the untreated sidewalls retain their structural strength
2Reliability
If the plasticizing agent is applied broadly across the entire shell, then flexibility is improved throughout, but the shell loses its necessary hardness and shape retention in the sidewall portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely targets the base portion for plasticizing agent application, ensuring that flexibility is introduced only where needed for crack prevention. The sidewalls remain untreated and maintain their original hard, shape-retaining properties, achieving the optimal balance between flexibility and structural integrity
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 softened base portion reduces crack propagation, maintaining structural integrity and preventing fillings from falling out, resulting in a cleaner eating experience.
Implementation Method 1
applying a plasticizing agent to a base or spine portion of a hard taco shell, thereby softening the base portion
Implementation Method 2
a migration limiting agent can be applied to confine the plasticizing agent to the targeted base or spine region
Data Source
AI summary
A taco shell is produced by applying a plasticizing agent to a targeted region including a base or spine portion of a hard taco shell and lower sections of taco shell sidewalls, thereby softening the targeted region, preferably across a strip width between 16 mm-20 mm, and enabling the sidewalls of the hard taco shell to engage each other without cracking or otherwise breaking the taco shell. As a further result, when the taco shell is bitten, the softened targeted region has some hinging flexibility or pliability which reduces the potential for any crack propagation. Therefore, the structural integrity of the hard taco shell can be better maintained during packaging and while be eaten, resulting in retention of the fillings and less mess. If desired, an anti-migration agent can also be applied to assure containment of the plasticizing agent in the targeted region.