Disposable Water-Permeable Container for Controlled Additive Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detergent forms, such as powders and tablets, are prone to overdosing and can cause skin irritation due to direct contact, and existing pre-portioned containers do not effectively control the release of additives during washing processes.

Innovation Solution

A disposable, water-insoluble, and water-permeable container made from materials like plastic fleece or impregnated paper, which allows controlled release of additives through controlled pore size, preventing skin contact and ensuring accurate dosing during washing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If detergent is used in powder form or compressed into tabs/tablets, then it is easy to handle and store, but overdosing is easily possible and direct contact with skin can occur leading to contact dermatitis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling and storageVSAvoidoverdosing risk and skin irritation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable pouches made from water-soluble or water-permeable materials that contain pre-measured detergent portions. These single-use containers eliminate the need for manual dosing, prevent skin contact with concentrated detergent, and ensure precise dosing through factory pre-portioning. The pouches are discarded after one use, maintaining hygiene and preventing contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch acts as an intermediary carrier between the detergent and the washing environment. It controls the release of detergent through its material properties (water-soluble or water-permeable), preventing direct skin contact while ensuring controlled dissolution during the washing process. This mediator structure resolves the contradiction by providing both protection and controlled delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If pre-portioned detergent containers are used, then overdosing is prevented, but the containers may not be sufficiently water-permeable to allow effective release of additives during washing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing precisionVSAvoidadditive release efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes pouches made from porous water-permeable materials such as non-woven fabrics or meshes with controlled pore sizes. These materials allow water to penetrate through the pouch structure during washing, enabling effective dissolution and release of detergent additives while maintaining structural integrity. The porosity is optimized to balance dosing precision with release efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs materials with varying degrees of water permeability and different pore size distributions to control the release kinetics of detergent additives. By adjusting material parameters such as fiber density, pore size, and hydrophilicity, the pouches achieve both precise dosing containment and effective additive release during the washing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution prevents overdosing and skin irritation by ensuring accurate and controlled release of additives, enhancing washing efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

The disposable container with the additive inside is made from a water-insoluble material and is water-permeable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOsmosis: Osmosis

Implementation Method 2

the additive inside dissolves in the water and is released through the pores

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

The container is cationic. Since the dyes in the water, which have leached from the laundry, are anionic, the dye molecules can be bound via a corresponding electrochemical process.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 4

a flocculant is provided, which is either added to the additive or contained separately in a container. This effectively binds any colors present in the water.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCoagulation: Coagulation

Data Source

PatentEP2784148B1Single use container with additive for water for the treatment of articles
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 COMTAG AG
  • EP2784148B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3b

AI summary

Additive for water for treating objects, which is present in water-soluble form, is claimed. A container made of a water-insoluble- and water-permeable material, in which the additive is present, is added with water for single use.