Ice Cream Container Pulling Structures

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice cream packaging is inefficient in material use and prone to freezer burn after opening, and serves hard ice cream poorly due to its design and structure.

Innovation Solution

A container with a partition member and pulling structures that separates food layers, allowing for easy serving and storage by facilitating the removal of one layer at a time while maintaining a seal to prevent freezer burn.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If single serving packaging is used, then packaging material use is efficient, but freezer burn protection is reduced and serving convenience is worsened for bulk packaging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging material use efficiencyVSAvoidfreezer burn susceptibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into multiple compartments by partition members, with each compartment containing a separate layer of food. This segmentation allows the container to protect multiple servings while using a single sealed container, preventing freezer burn on each individual layer while maintaining packaging efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of substance

If bulk packaging is used, then packaging material use is efficient, but serving hard ice cream becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging material use efficiencyVSAvoidserving ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The partition members divide the bulk ice cream into separate layers, allowing users to remove and serve one layer at a time. This segmentation makes it easier to handle and serve hard ice cream from bulk packaging without requiring excessive force or special tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition members act as intermediaries between the user and the hard ice cream layers. By providing pulling structures attached to the partitions, the system mediates the interaction, allowing users to easily grasp and remove layers without directly handling the hard ice cream itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If partition members are added to separate food layers, then serving ease is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserving easeVSAvoidcontainer structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The partition members are merged with the container walls, with the separating portions forming integral parts of the container structure. The pulling structures are attached to these partitions, combining multiple functions (separation, structural support, and easy removal) into a single integrated component, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11891235B2Food package with pulling structures

Publication Date: 2024.02.06 BREIDENBACH LINDSAY BELL

AI summary

A container for food includes an enclosure, a lid, and pulling structures. The enclosure includes an interior and an opening. The pulling structures pull food layers from each other. A last pulling structure may pull a bottom food layer from the interior. An opening partition member may separate the lid from a top food layer. Separating portions may seal against the interior of the enclosure. At least one of the pulling structures may extend from at least one of the separating portions to a grip. The grip may be positioned outside of the interior of the enclosure, at least when the container is in a storage configuration.