Reconstitutable Surfactant Powder for Leakage-Resistant Gel Formulations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing personal care products face issues with liquid formulations, including storage challenges, leakage during transportation, and residue left on clothes from powder products, necessitating a solution that combines the advantages of both while minimizing their disadvantages.

Innovation Solution

A reconstitutable surfactant-based powder that forms a stable gel when dispersed in water, comprising a polymer/gum system, surfactants, thickening agents, chelating agents, preservatives, and optional natural extracts, which can be used to create a gel formulation for products like shampoo or body wash without forming a liquid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If liquid products are used, then ease of use and cleansing effectiveness are improved, but storage convenience and leakage prevention deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidleakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter from liquid to powder form. The reconstitutable powder product maintains the cleansing effectiveness of liquids while eliminating leakage issues. When mixed with water, the powder forms a stable gel or foam that provides liquid-like cleansing properties without the drawbacks of liquid storage and transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the product into a dry powder form that can be stored separately and only converted to liquid/gel form when needed through reconstitution with water. This segmentation allows the product to maintain stability during storage and transportation while providing liquid-like performance during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If powder products are used, then storage convenience and leakage prevention are improved, but residue left on clothes and cleansing effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage convenienceVSAvoidresidue on clothes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state from dry powder to stable gel or foam through reconstitution with water. This parameter change eliminates the residue problem associated with powder products while maintaining storage convenience. The gel/foam form provides complete cleansing without leaving soap residues on clothes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance that transforms the powder into a stable gel or foam formulation. This intermediary conversion allows the product to achieve both storage convenience and complete cleansing effectiveness without residue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If rehydratable liquid products are used, then ease of use is improved, but storage stability and packaging requirements deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidstorage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state from liquid to powder, then to stable gel/foam upon reconstitution. This parameter change sequence provides both ease of use and storage stability, as the powder form is stable during storage and converts to a stable gel/foam form during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite formulation combining powder surfactants with polymer/gum systems and thickening agents that form a stable gel network when reconstituted with water. This composite approach ensures storage stability while providing liquid-like ease of use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Object-generated harmful factors

If gel formulation is formed, then residue-free cleansing and storage stability are improved, but product complexity and formulation difficulty deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresidue-free cleansingVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves residue-free cleansing by changing the physical state to stable gel or foam through reconstitution. The formulation complexity is managed by using common polymer/gum systems and thickening agents that reliably form stable gels when mixed with water.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by using specific polymer/gum systems and thickening agents in controlled amounts to achieve stable gel formation only where needed (upon reconstitution with water), rather than requiring complex formulation throughout the entire product system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 provides a convenient, leak-proof, and residue-free personal care product that maintains the benefits of both powder and liquid forms, offering improved storage and usage convenience with a stable gel product.

Implementation Method 1

forms a stable gel when dispersed in water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGel formation: Gel

Implementation Method 2

forms a stable gel when dispersed in water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThixotropy: Thixotropy

Implementation Method 3

reconstitutable surfactant-based powder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 4

one or more thickening and stabilizing agents

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscosification:

Implementation Method 5

one or more chelating agents

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChelation:

Data Source

PatentUS11583478B2Reconstitutable powder
Publication Date: 2023.02.21 GODREJ CONSUMER PRODUCTS LIMITED

AI summary

A reconstitutable surfactant-based powder has good solubility in water and forms a stable gel when dispersed in water. The reconstitutable surfactant-based powder consists of a polymer/gum system and a dry powder extract.