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
Engineering 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
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.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate sheets are used to form each cavity, then independent housing of products is achieved, but raw material usage increases
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.
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
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.
4Reliability
If multiple manufacturing steps are used for waterproofing, drying, fixing, and sealing, then product protection is improved, but manufacturing time increases
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.
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
Implementation Method 2
sealing one of the bases of the first tubular body
Data Source
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).


