Molded Fiber Pulp Container with Removable Polymeric Bag

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid containers contribute significantly to environmental waste due to their non-biodegradable materials, complex recycling processes, and additional components like caps and straws that often end up as litter, necessitating the development of more sustainable and recyclable packaging solutions.

Innovation Solution

The design of liquid containers featuring a polymeric liquid holding bag integrated with a molded fiber or pulp-formed skeleton shell, which provides structural support and facilitates easy recycling by minimizing material usage and allowing for secure connections without adhesives, enabling efficient separation of components for recycling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If glass bottles are used for liquid packaging, then the material can be recycled, but the energy required to make the bottles is high and the weight is high increasing transportation energy

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverecyclabilityVSAvoidenergy required to make bottles and transport

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameters from glass to molded fiber pulp, which has lower production energy requirements and lower weight, while maintaining recyclability through industrial composting and recycling processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a disposable molded fiber container that can be easily composted or recycled industrially, eliminating the need for durable glass bottles and their associated high energy costs for manufacturing and transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of manufacture

If glass bottles are disposed of in landfill sites, then they are disposed of with other waste, but glass is not biodegradable causing environmental problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisposal with other wasteVSAvoidnon-biodegradability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition from non-biodegradable glass to biodegradable molded fiber pulp, which can decompose naturally in landfill sites or through industrial composting, eliminating the harmful non-biodegradability issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of landfill disposal into a benefit by using biodegradable molded fiber material that can compost industrially or decompose naturally, turning what would be a waste problem into a sustainable solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If plastic bottles are used for liquid packaging, then the material could be recycled if separated from other waste, but the bottles take up excessive space in landfill sites due to hollow rigid structure

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverecyclabilityVSAvoidspace occupied in landfill

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material from plastic to molded fiber pulp and modifies the structural parameters by using a form-fill-seal bag design that collapses as it is emptied, dramatically reducing the volume occupied in landfill sites compared to rigid hollow plastic bottles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If laminated cardboard containers are used for liquid packaging, then the container can hold liquid and act as a barrier, but they are difficult to recycle and the waterproof coating prevents full decomposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid containment capabilityVSAvoidrecycling difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the container into separate functional components: the molded fiber pulp skeleton provides structural support while the form-fill-seal bag provides liquid containment, allowing each component to be optimized for its function and facilitating easier recycling and decomposition compared to laminated structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

5Ease of operation

If plastic dispensing nozzles or caps are formed as part of the package, then dispensing functionality is provided, but additional components need to be separated before recycling or decomposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing functionalityVSAvoidnumber of separable components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the dispensing functionality directly into the molded fiber pulp skeleton structure through integrally formed dispensing openings and flaps, eliminating the need for separate plastic nozzles or caps and reducing the number of components that need to be separated for recycling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12071293B2Containers for holding materials

Publication Date: 2024.08.27 ECOLOGIC BRANDS INC

AI summary

A container includes: a skeleton shell defining a container body of the container, the skeleton shell being formed from a recycled and/or biodegradable pulp material; and, a bag or liner removably disposed within the skeleton shell. Wherein the skeleton shell includes at least one separation feature that facilitates separation of the skeleton shell from the bag or liner.