Nested Tubular Food Container with Dual Cavities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers for food products with multiple compartments are complex to manufacture, require multiple steps and materials, and often suffer from detachment issues during transport and use, lacking a simple and attractive design for housing different food items like sweeteners and cookies.

Innovation Solution

A method for forming a tubular container with two independent cavities using a flexible sheet, where the sheet is folded and rolled to create concentric tubular bodies, allowing for simultaneous formation and filling, with independent access to each cavity, using fewer raw materials and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two single containers are joined together to form a two-cavity container, then multiple food products can be housed separately, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and requires multiple steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to house different food productsVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by forming one tubular body inside another tubular body from a single flexible sheet. The inner tubular body is created first, then the same sheet is folded and rolled again to form an outer tubular body that contains the inner one. This nested structure provides multiple cavities for different food products while eliminating the need to join separate containers, thus reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate sheets are used to form each cavity, then independent housing of products is achieved, but raw material usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent product housingVSAvoidraw material usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies multi-functionality by using a single flexible sheet to perform multiple functions: it forms both the inner and outer tubular bodies, creates multiple sealed cavities, and provides independent housing for different food products. This single sheet accomplishes what would traditionally require multiple separate sheets, thereby reducing raw material usage while maintaining independent product housing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If rigid material containers are used, then structural strength is improved, but the ability to form and fill in a single method is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer structural strengthVSAvoidforming and filling integration
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by using a flexible sheet that can be dynamically transformed during the forming process. The sheet is folded and rolled in specific sequences to create the nested tubular structure, allowing the container to be formed and filled in an integrated single-method process. The flexibility enables complex forming operations that would be difficult with rigid materials, while the final sealed structure provides adequate structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If multiple manufacturing steps are used for waterproofing, drying, fixing, and sealing, then product protection is improved, but manufacturing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining multiple protective functions into the heat-sealing step. The heat seal simultaneously provides waterproofing, sealing, and product protection in a single operation. By integrating these functions that would traditionally require separate waterproofing, drying, fixing, and sealing steps, the manufacturing time is significantly reduced while maintaining reliable product protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 method enables the creation of a compact, visually appealing container that can house different food products efficiently, using less material and reducing manufacturing steps, while ensuring each product is sealed and accessible independently, enhancing user experience and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

folding or rolling a portion of said flexible sheet forming a first tubular body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

sealing one of the bases of the first tubular body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat sealing: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS10155601B2Method for forming a tubular container for food products, and resulting tube
Publication Date: 2018.12.18 NEVOT BANUS JORDI
  • US10155601B2 patent drawing
  • US10155601B2 patent drawing
  • US10155601B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for forming a tubular container for food products and resulting container. The method comprising: folding or rolling a portion of the flexible sheet (3) forming a first tubular body (1); sealing one of the bases (1a) of the first tubular body (1); folding or rolling the rest of the flexible sheet (3) which is not part of said first tubular body (1) concentrically around the first tubular body (1), forming a second tubular body (2) outside the first tubular body (1); and joining part of the final longitudinal end of the inner surface of the second tubular body (2) to part of the outer surface of the first tubular body (1), forming two independent cavities: a first cavity (4) inside the first tubular body (1); and a second cavity (5) inside the second tubular body (2) and outside the first tubular body (1).