Peel Sleeve Flexible Container for Contaminant-Free On-The-Go Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for flexible containers that can be conveniently opened and consumed on-the-go while ensuring safe, contaminant-free food consumption, particularly for the growing population of 'transumers' who eat or drink while in transit.
Innovation Solution
A flexible container design featuring a first and second flexible film sealed along a common peripheral edge, with surface-treated ethylene-based polymer layers and a GRAS acrylate-based release material between the peel sleeve and the films, allowing for easy peeling and re-sealing, ensuring a clean and safe consumption experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flexible container is designed for portability and on-the-go consumption, then convenience and mobility are improved, but ensuring contaminant-free food consumption and safe direct mouth-to-container contact becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into an inner container (flexible pouch) and an outer container (peel sleeve), creating separate functional zones. The inner container holds the food product while the outer peel sleeve provides protection and enables controlled access, allowing consumers to maintain hygiene during portable consumption without compromising safety
Solution Approach 2:
The peel sleeve acts as an intermediary barrier between the consumer's mouth and the inner container. By peeling back the sleeve, consumers can access the food while the sleeve itself serves as a removable protective layer that prevents direct contact with potential contaminants on the outer surface, thus enabling safe mouth-to-container contact during on-the-go consumption
2Ease of operation
If a peel sleeve is added to enable easy opening and controlled access, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peel sleeve is constructed from flexible film material that can be easily peeled back by hand without requiring additional tools or mechanisms. This flexible shell design provides the opening function through simple material properties rather than complex mechanical structures, maintaining ease of operation while minimizing added complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The peel sleeve is pre-formed and pre-positioned on the inner container during manufacturing, with the release material already applied to its inner surface. This preliminary preparation allows the consumer to simply peel the sleeve back without needing to perform any additional preparation steps, enabling easy opening while keeping the overall structure relatively simple
3Ease of operation
If surface treatment is applied to control adhesion and enable clean peeling, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surface of the peel sleeve is treated to modify its adhesion parameters, creating a surface that adheres to the inner container during sealing but releases cleanly during peeling. This parameter change in surface energy or friction characteristics enables controlled adhesion and clean separation, improving ease of operation while the treatment process remains a standard manufacturing step
4Ease of operation
If a release material is used to releasably attach the peel sleeve, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The release material is applied as a thin, disposable layer on the peel sleeve that serves its function during sealing and peeling, then is discarded with the sleeve after use. This approach uses a low-cost, single-use material rather than a permanent or reusable attachment mechanism, improving ease of operation while minimizing manufacturing complexity and cost
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 container provides a convenient, safe, and contaminant-free delivery platform for on-the-go consumption, ensuring direct mouth-to-container contact without contamination, addressing the need for portable and easily consumable food options.
Implementation Method 1
The release material releasably attaches the peel sleeve to the inner container
Implementation Method 2
Each outermost layer is a surface-treated layer having a surface energy from 33 mN/m to 36 mN/m
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a flexible container (10). In an embodiment, the flexible container includes a first flexible film (12) superimposed on an opposing second flexible film (14). The first flexible film and the second flexible film are sealed along a common peripheral edge (16) to form an inner container having a closed chamber. The first flexible film and the second flexible film each has an outermost layer comprising an ethylene-based polymer. Each outermost layer is a surface-treated layer having a surface energy from 33 mN/m to 36 mN/m. The flexible container includes a peel sleeve (22, 24) superimposed on each respective outermost layer and along the common peripheral edge. The flexible container includes a release material (26) located between the peel sleeve and each outermost layer along the common peripheral edge. The release material releasably attaches the peel sleeve to the inner container.