Inverted Container Leakage Prevention via Viscoelastic Formulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inverted containers for liquid hand dishwashing cleaning products face challenges in preventing leakage, especially when exposed to increased temperatures or impacts, due to internal pressure build-up, which existing solutions such as resilient valves and baffles have not fully addressed.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning product formulation with a specific surfactant system comprising an anionic surfactant and an amphoteric co-surfactant in a weight ratio of 8:1 to 1:1, combined with an external structurant like microfibrillated cellulose, which reduces viscosity and enhances elasticity to prevent leakage upon impact and static storage at elevated temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an inverted container is used to facilitate dosing and ergonomics, then ease of operation is improved, but leakage risk increases due to internal pressure build-up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cleaning composition by incorporating an external structurant that forms a weak gel structure, altering the viscosity and elasticity parameters to resist internal pressure and prevent leakage while maintaining dosing functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite cleaning composition by combining conventional surfactants with an external structurant (microfibrillated cellulose or hydrophobically modified polymer), forming a composite material that provides both cleaning action and structural integrity to prevent leakage
2Reliability
If a closing cap is added to prevent leakage, then leakage prevention is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the closing cap from the system entirely, extracting the leakage prevention function from the mechanical cap structure and transferring it to the chemical composition itself, which inherently resists leakage through its gel structure and elasticity
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning composition serves itself by providing leakage prevention through its own structural properties (viscosity and elasticity) without requiring an additional mechanical component, making the system self-sufficient
3Reliability
If the cleaning composition viscosity is increased to prevent leakage, then leakage prevention is improved, but stringiness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully adjusts the concentration of the external structurant to achieve optimal viscosity parameters that provide leakage resistance while controlling the elastic properties to minimize stringiness, finding a precise parameter balance
4Reliability
If a resilient valve with baffles is incorporated to prevent leakage, then leakage prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the resilient valve and baffle structure from the system, extracting the leakage prevention function from mechanical components and transferring it to the chemical composition's inherent structural properties
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning composition provides its own leakage prevention through its gel structure and elasticity, making the system self-sufficient without requiring additional mechanical prevention devices
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 formulation significantly reduces or eliminates static leakage during storage at elevated temperatures, providing improved leakage prevention and stability by countering internal pressure and expansion forces within the inverted container.
Implementation Method 1
an external structurant like microfibrillated cellulose, which reduces viscosity and enhances elasticity
Implementation Method 2
a specific surfactant system comprising an anionic surfactant and an amphoteric co-surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cleaning product comprising: an inverted container assembly (10) comprising an inverted container (11) and a liquid dispenser (15) attached to a bottom surface (12) of the inverted container (11), and a viscous cleaning composition contained in the inverted container assembly (10).