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 plastic outer container with a lid member and a paper inner container having a suction port sealed by a tearable film, allowing for easy refilling and recyclability, with the inner container's design enabling reliable liquid content dispensing and accommodating a square tubular shape with thermoplastic resin lamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pouch is made of synthetic resin to store liquid content, then the pouch is durable and functional, but the used pouch becomes difficult to recycle causing resource wasting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepouch durabilityVSAvoidresource waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into two separate parts: a reusable outer container made of plastic and a replaceable inner pouch made of paper. This segmentation allows the paper pouch to be easily recycled while the durable plastic outer container continues to be used, resolving the contradiction between pouch durability and recyclability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The paper inner pouch is designed to be discarded after use and recovered through recycling processes, while the plastic outer container is retained and reused. This approach enables resource recovery for the paper component while maintaining the functional durability of the plastic container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the body is made of paper to be environmentally friendly, then the container is biodegradable, but when wetted in bathroom or lavatory the body loses its shape and cannot be used repeatedly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidrepeated usability in wet environments

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The container structure is segmented into an outer plastic body and an inner paper pouch. The plastic outer container provides structural integrity and resistance to moisture, enabling repeated use in wet environments, while the paper inner pouch maintains environmental friendliness and biodegradability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The container uses a composite structure combining plastic material for the outer container and paper material for the inner pouch. This composite approach allows each material to perform its optimal function: plastic provides moisture resistance and structural stability, while paper provides environmental compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If the fixing portion is disconnected and the pouch is taken out to replace it when liquid content is used up, then the pouch is replaceable, but the refilling operation becomes laborious

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepouch replaceabilityVSAvoidrefilling operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container is segmented into a reusable outer container and a replaceable inner pouch with integrated pump mechanism. This segmentation allows the entire pump assembly to be replaced as a single unit by simply removing the lid, significantly simplifying the refilling operation while maintaining pouch replaceability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pump mechanism is merged with the lid member, forming an integrated assembly that is replaced together with the inner pouch. This merging eliminates the need for separate disconnection steps for the pump, making the refilling operation simpler while preserving the ability to replace the liquid-containing pouch.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Facilitates easy refilling operations, promotes resource saving through recyclable inner containers, and ensures the outer container remains usable even in wet environments due to its plastic construction.

Implementation Method 1

a pump, which is provided to the lid member and configured to pump up the liquid content in the inner container accommodated in the outer container and to dispense the liquid content to an outside of the refillable container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS10518279B2Refillable container

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 NIPPON PAPER IND CO LTD

AI summary

A refillable container including an outer container (3), a lid member (4), an inner container (5), and a pump (6). The outer container has an opening formed in an upper part thereof, and the lid member is configured to close the opening of the outer container. The inner container is made of paper, configured to store the liquid content therein, and replaceably accommodated in the outer container. The pump is configured to pump up the liquid content in the inner container stored in the outer container and to dispense the liquid content outside of the refillable container. When the opening of the outer container is closed by the lid member, a suction tube (15) of the pump, which is arranged below the lid member, is inserted from a suction port (8), which is formed in an upper surface of the inner container, into the inner container.