Liquid Core Shell Kibble Hydration Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dry pet food diets lead to reduced water intake in pets, potentially causing health issues like kidney stones and urinary tract diseases, as pets are accustomed to obtaining water from their prey, making them drink less when fed dry food.
Innovation Solution
Development of 'liquid core and shell' pet food kibbles, where a liquid-based substance is encapsulated in a semi-moist or dry solid food coating, providing both the texture of dry kibbles and the hydration of a liquid with each bite, eliminating the need for separate gravy or wet food products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If dry pet food is used, then convenience and shelf stability are improved, but water intake is reduced leading to health issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds a liquid core containing water and nutritional substances within a solid kibble shell. This nested structure allows the kibble to maintain its dry, convenient form while delivering liquid hydration and nutrients upon consumption, directly addressing the water intake problem without sacrificing convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameters of the food product by incorporating liquid components within a solid matrix. The liquid core contains water and nutritional substances that are released during consumption, transforming the kibble from a purely dry product to one that delivers both solid texture and liquid hydration
2Object-affected harmful factors
If wet pet food is used, then water intake and flavor are improved, but messiness and convenience are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid core containing water and nutritional substances is nested within the solid kibble shell, allowing the product to maintain a dry, non-messy external form while delivering liquid hydration and flavor upon consumption, thus avoiding the messiness of traditional wet food
Solution Approach 2:
The solid kibble shell acts as a flexible container that encloses the liquid core, maintaining structural integrity during storage and handling while allowing the liquid to be released during consumption, combining the benefits of dry and wet food formats
3Quantity of substance
If coatings are applied to dry kibble, then flavor and nutrient content are improved, but messiness increases and frequent reapplication is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coating function with the structural shell by incorporating the liquid core containing nutrients and flavors within the kibble itself rather than applying it as a separate coating layer, eliminating the need for frequent reapplication and reducing messiness
Solution Approach 2:
The solid shell serves multiple functions: providing structural integrity, delivering flavor, and containing the liquid nutritional core. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate coating applications while maintaining nutritional benefits
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid core and shell product is provided. The product can have at least three layers: a solid food based material, a liquid-based substance, and an encapsulate material. The liquid core and shell product can deliver a liquid-based substance to the mouth of a consumer in a clean way, where it may also provide a unique mouth feel. The liquid core and shell product can also act as a delivery vehicle for functional ingredients and/or organoleptic enhancers.