Packaging Subassembly with Snap-Fit Utensil Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging assemblies lack innovative designs for securely containing and separating food items while allowing for easy access and preparation, leading to issues with food freshness and convenience.

Innovation Solution

A packaging assembly comprising a container with a utensil secured within, where the utensil is snap-fit retained and the container is nested inside another, with seals to maintain freshness, and a packaging jacket for easy opening, allowing for segregation and preparation of ingredients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a utensil is permanently fixed inside a container, then the utensil is securely retained, but the container cannot be easily disassembled for cleaning or storage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveutensil retentionVSAvoidcontainer disassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The utensil is designed with a dynamic retention mechanism that transitions between a secured state during transport/storage and a removable state during use. The utensil includes a body portion with a first end that engages with the container's inner surface, allowing it to be held securely during transport but easily removed when needed for cleaning or storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple containers are used to separate ingredients, then food freshness is maintained, but the packaging structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood freshnessVSAvoidpackaging structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging system is divided into separate functional components: an outer container for one ingredient and an inner container for another ingredient. These segmented containers allow independent storage and protection of different food items, maintaining freshness while enabling modular assembly that reduces overall structural complexity compared to fully integrated systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner container is nested within the outer container, creating a compact packaging structure. This nesting arrangement allows multiple ingredients to be stored separately in smaller containers that fit within a larger container, maintaining food freshness through separation while minimizing the overall packaging footprint and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a seal is added to the container opening, then food freshness is protected, but the container requires additional steps for opening and closing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood freshnessVSAvoidopening and closing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is pre-positioned at the container opening in a ready-to-use state. This preliminary placement allows the seal to be immediately effective when the container is first opened, protecting food freshness without requiring additional assembly steps. The seal is designed to be activated automatically during the normal opening/closing operation, minimizing the number of additional steps needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20240343465A1Packaging subassembly, a packaging assembly and a methodology for preparing a packaging assembly

Publication Date: 2024.10.17 KELLANOVA

AI summary

An assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a container and a utensil. The container includes a bowl portion defined by a bottom wall and a side wall extending from the bottom wall. The side wall and the bottom wall are each defined by an inner surface that forms a cavity of the bowl portion. The utensil is disposed within the cavity and is removably-secured to the inner surface of the side wall that defines the bowl portion of the container. An assembly is also disclosed. A method is also disclosed.