Reusable Container for Stick Products with Segmented Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The environmental impact of single-use plastic containers for dispensing stick-form products is significant due to their poor recyclability and long decomposition times, leading to substantial plastic waste.
Innovation Solution
A reusable container design featuring a housing and insert assembly made from durable, non-reactive materials like stainless steel, aluminum, and polymers, allowing for easy assembly, disassembly, cleaning, and separation for recycling or composting, with components that resist rust and corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If single-use plastic containers are used for dispensing stick-form products, then manufacturing cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but environmental harm and plastic waste increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple separable components including a reusable housing assembly and a replaceable insert assembly. This segmentation allows the housing to be reused while the insert can be recycled or composted, reducing overall environmental impact while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through modular production
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-use plastic containers to reusable containers with durable materials like stainless steel, aluminum, or silicone for the housing assembly. This parameter change in material durability and reusability significantly reduces environmental harm while the modular design maintains ease of manufacture through standardized components
2Reliability
If reusable components made from durable materials like stainless steel or aluminum are used, then resistance to rust and corrosion is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the container into a durable reusable housing and a replaceable insert, the patent allows the expensive durable materials to be used only where necessary for reliability (housing), while the insert can be made from more cost-effective materials that are disposed of or recycled after use
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable housing assembly serves multiple functions: it provides structural integrity, resists rust and corrosion, and can be cleaned and reused repeatedly. This multi-functionality justifies the use of durable materials in the housing while the overall system remains cost-effective through reuse
3Ease of operation
If the container is designed for complete disassembly and cleaning, then ease of cleaning and maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into a housing assembly and an insert assembly that can be easily separated from each other. This segmentation enables complete disassembly for thorough cleaning of all surfaces, while the separation mechanism itself remains simple and intuitive, avoiding excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The insert assembly is designed to be extractable from the housing assembly, allowing users to remove and clean the insert separately. This extraction design simplifies the cleaning process by providing direct access to all surfaces that contact the product, while the extraction mechanism remains straightforward
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a container includes a housing assembly and an insert assembly. Each component of the housing assembly may designed to be reused, and each component of the insert assembly may be designed to be reused, recycled, or composted, depending on the materials employed for construction. Reusable components of the container may be constructed of non-reactive, durable materials that are not susceptible, or at least resistant, to rust and/or corrosion. Example materials for the reusable components include stainless steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, various types of polymers, and silicone. The container may be designed to allow simple and complete assembly and disassembly. The reusable parts may be cleaned, replaced, or repaired, as needed, and recyclable or compostable parts may be separated and cleaned in preparation for recycling or composting.