Pourable Product Package With Direct-Consumption Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packages and packaging blanks for pourable products, such as Tetra Brik Aseptic packages, lack improvements in consumer convenience and design for direct consumption on the go, particularly in terms of opening mechanisms and structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A package design featuring a multilayer structure with a designated pour opening area covered by a separation membrane and an opening device, such as a peel foil or pull-tab, allowing direct consumption and easy access to the contents, combined with a unique geometric configuration for enhanced handling and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional sealed package structure is used, then product preservation is maintained, but consumer convenience and ease of access are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The package is divided into two functional parts: a sealed main body for preservation and a separate opening mechanism (spout assembly) for access. The spout assembly includes a detachable cap and a permanent spout structure, allowing the user to open the package without compromising the sealed integrity of the main container. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing easy access through a dedicated opening mechanism while maintaining product preservation in the sealed portion.
Solution Approach 2:
A spout assembly acts as an intermediary element between the sealed package and the user. The spout assembly includes a cap that can be detached to create an opening, and a permanent spout structure that facilitates pouring. This intermediary mechanism provides convenient access while maintaining the sealed integrity of the main package, resolving the contradiction between ease of access and package preservation.
2Ease of operation
If a package is designed for direct consumption on the go, then consumer convenience is improved, but structural integrity and stability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The package structure is segmented into a stable main body and a separate spout assembly. The main body maintains its structural integrity for stability, while the spout assembly provides the functionality for direct consumption. The spout assembly can be detached from the main body, allowing the main container to remain stable during storage and transport while enabling convenient pouring when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The package transitions from a static sealed structure to a dynamic system where the spout assembly can be attached or detached. When attached, the package enables direct consumption; when detached, the main body returns to a stable, sealed state. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by allowing the package to adapt between consumption mode and stability mode.
3Ease of operation
If an opening device is added to the package, then ease of access is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The opening function is extracted into a separate spout assembly that can be detached from the main package body. The spout assembly includes a cap and spout structure that form the opening mechanism. By extracting the opening function into a separate component, the design simplifies the overall structure while maintaining ease of access, as the spout assembly can be easily attached and detached without complicating the main package.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout assembly cap is designed as a disposable or replaceable component that can be easily detached and replaced. This approach simplifies the opening mechanism by using a simple, easily manufactured cap that provides the necessary opening function without adding complex structural elements to the main package. The cap can be discarded or replaced after use, reducing the overall complexity of the opening device.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4
AI summary
There is described a package (1, 1',1'') comprising a bottom wall (3), a top wall (4) and a side wall (5) interposed between the top wall (3) and the bottom wall (4). The top wall (4) comprises two front corners (15) and the bottom wall (3) comprises two bottom front corners (24). A first extension (E1) is defined between the two front corners (15) and a second extension (E2) is defined between the two bottom front corners (24), the second extension (E2) being larger than the first extension (E1). The side wall (5) comprises two longitudinal front edges (29). Each longitudinal front edge (29) comprises an inclined portion (32) extending towards the top wall (4). Each inclined portion (32) is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) and comprises a first end (36) and a second end (37) opposite to the first end (36). The second ends (37) are closer to the front edge (17) than the first ends (36). The first ends (36) are distanced from the bottom wall (3).