Laundry Pouch with Interlocking Convex-Concave Chambers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detergent products with multiple chambers have insufficient intrinsic dimensional stability, leading to poor dissolution behavior and increased production costs, while also being perceived as inferior quality due to bending issues and high film consumption.

Innovation Solution

A detergent product design featuring a plurality of bag chambers arranged around a common n-fold axis of rotation, ensuring high intrinsic stability, improved dissolution, and reduced film consumption through a compact, flow-optimized configuration with narrow sealing sections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bag chambers are arranged side by side with simple geometry, then the detergent product can contain different detergent preparations, but the film bag has insufficient intrinsic dimensional stability and the chambers bend relative to one another

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to contain different detergent preparationsVSAvoidintrinsic dimensional stability of the film bag
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by designing the base surfaces of the bag chambers with convex and concave sections rather than simple flat or uniformly curved geometries. The convex sections protrude into adjacent chambers while concave sections receive corresponding protrusions, creating an interlocking three-dimensional structure that resists bending and maintains dimensional stability during manual handling and washing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Strength

If wide sealing sections are used to connect the base film and cover film, then the film bag has better structural integrity, but the film consumption increases and production costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrity of the film bagVSAvoidfilm consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the sealing section widths at different locations rather than using uniform wide sealing throughout. Narrow sealing sections are strategically placed where structural integrity is sufficient with minimal material, while wider sealing sections are used only where necessary for strength. This localized approach to sealing width optimizes the balance between structural integrity and film consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of substance

If the bag chambers are arranged in a compact configuration, then the film consumption is reduced, but the dissolution behavior during washing may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilm consumptionVSAvoiddissolution behavior during washing
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The interlocking convex-concave geometry creates a compact configuration that reduces overall film consumption while maintaining dissolution performance. The curved surfaces and interdigitating structures allow water to flow between and around the chambers during washing, ensuring that the compact arrangement does not hinder water penetration and dissolution of the detergent preparations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Stability of the object's composition

If convex and concave sections are designed to interlock adjacent chambers, then the intrinsic dimensional stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintrinsic dimensional stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity of the film bag
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the base film into distinct chamber-forming sections with defined convex and concave regions. This segmentation allows each chamber to be formed independently through deep-drawing processes, and the interlocking features are created as integral parts of the molding process rather than requiring separate assembly steps, thereby managing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

5Loss of substance

If narrow sealing sections are used to reduce film consumption, then the production costs are reduced, but the structural integrity and stability of the film bag decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilm consumptionVSAvoidstructural integrity of the film bag
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite material principles by combining the base film and cover film into a multi-layer structure with integrated sealing sections. The sealing sections are formed as composite structures where the base film and cover film are thermally or mechanically bonded, creating a unified structure that achieves adequate strength with reduced film width. The convex-concave interlocking geometry further enhances the effective strength of these narrow sealing sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 achieves high dimensional stability, efficient dissolution, and cost-effective production with enhanced user acceptance by ensuring the detergent product remains intact during washing and reduces material usage.

Implementation Method 1

the film bag being made from a water-soluble base film and a water-soluble cover film... Upon addition of the subject detergent products to water, the film dissolves and releases the detergent composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater solubility:

Implementation Method 2

The base film is deep-drawn, for example in a plastically deforming manner... the base film can be deep-drawn, for example in a plastically deforming manner to form the pouch chambers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3381835B1Laundry product
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 HENKEL KGAA
  • EP3381835B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3381835B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3381835B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

A detergent product (1), in particular for textile treatment, further in particular for textile cleaning and/or for textile washing, is shown and described, comprising a foil bag (2) having a plurality of bag chambers (3), each enclosed by at least one water-soluble film, wherein the bag chambers (3) are formed by water-soluble films connected to each other in a sealing plane and are separated from each other by sealing sections (4) lying in the sealing plane, and wherein the bag chambers (3) are each filled with a detergent preparation.In order to achieve a compact arrangement of the pouch chambers (3) with narrow sealing sections (4) between the pouch chambers (3) in the sealing plane, high intrinsic stability and better dissolution behavior of the detergent product (1), a plurality of pouch chambers (3) with the number n ≥ 3 are provided in the detergent product (1), wherein the pouch chambers (3) are arranged in at least one cutting plane around a common n-fold rotation axis perpendicular to the cutting plane.