Refillable container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refillable containers face challenges with laborious refilling operations, resource wastage due to non-recyclable pouches, and structural issues when exposed to moisture, leading to loss of shape and repeated use limitations.
Innovation Solution
A refillable container design featuring a paper-based inner container with a thermoplastic resin laminate and a plastic outer container, equipped with a suction port sealed by a tearable film, allowing for easy refilling and recyclability, and a reversed quadrangular pyramid bottom surface for efficient liquid extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pouch is made of synthetic resin to store liquid content, then the storage function is improved, but the recyclability deteriorates causing resource wasting
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the inner container from synthetic resin to paper, which maintains the storage function while dramatically improving recyclability. The paper material can be easily recycled and decomposed, eliminating the resource waste problem associated with synthetic resin pouches.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material structure by combining paper with thermoplastic resin coating. The paper provides recyclability while the thermoplastic resin coating maintains the storage function by providing moisture resistance. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between storage reliability and recyclability.
2Loss of substance
If the body is made of paper to provide an eco-friendly outer container, then the environmental friendliness is improved, but the moisture resistance deteriorates causing loss of shape
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies composite material by coating paper with thermoplastic resin. The paper base maintains environmental friendliness and recyclability, while the thermoplastic resin coating provides the necessary moisture resistance and shape stability for bathroom use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fixing portion is disconnected and pouch is removed for refilling, then the refilling function is achieved, but the operation complexity increases making refilling laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the container into an outer container and a removable inner container. The inner container can be easily removed and replaced without complex disassembly operations. This segmentation allows simple refilling by just replacing the inner container rather than disconnecting multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a nested structure where the inner container is placed inside the outer container. The inner container has a shape that fits within the outer container, allowing easy removal and replacement. This nesting design simplifies the refilling operation to a single action of removing and replacing the inner container.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a refillable container enabling that a refilling operation is easily performed when a liquid content is used up, that an inner container configured to store the liquid content is resource saving, and that an outer container is used repeatedly even at a place where the outer container is liable to be wetted, the refillable container includes an outer container (3), a lid member (4), an inner container (5), and a pump (6). The outer container (3) has an opening (2) formed in an upper part thereof, and is made of plastic. The lid member (4) is configured to close the opening (2) of the outer container (3) and is made of plastic. The inner container (5) is made of paper, configured to store the liquid content therein, and replaceably accommodated in the outer container (3) when the liquid content is used up. The pump (6) is provided to the lid member (4) and configured to pump up the liquid content in the inner container (5) stored in the outer container (3) and to dispense the liquid content to an outside of the refillable container. When the opening (2) of the outer container (3) is closed by the lid member (4), a suction tube (15) of the pump (6), which is arranged below the lid member (4), is inserted from a suction port (8), which is formed in an upper surface (7) of the inner container (5), into the inner container (5).