Laundry Scent Additive Package With Sleeve-Locked Dosing Cup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging designs for particulate laundry scent additives are prone to dosing cup separation during handling, leading to incomplete products, potential spills when consumers test the scent, and inconvenience in dispensing with three separate elements using two hands.
Innovation Solution
A package design featuring a container, closure, and dosing cup with a shrink sleeve wrapping around the container and dosing cup, providing a secure engagement mechanism and allowing scent sampling without opening the package by expelling perfumed air through a vent opening, enabling convenient one-handed use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a dosing cup is peripherally snapped to a threaded closure, then the dosing cup can be conveniently located for product use, but the dosing cup may become separated from the closure during shipping, handling, or display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the dosing cup and closure into a single integrated unit by molding the dosing cup as an integral part of the closure structure. This eliminates the separate attachment step and ensures the dosing cup cannot become separated during shipping or handling, while still maintaining convenient positioning for product dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing cup is nested within the closure structure, with the cup forming an internal cavity that is part of the closure body. This nesting arrangement ensures the dosing cup remains securely positioned within the closure while allowing easy access for dispensing the scent additive.
2Ease of operation
If the closure is opened to smell the product, then the consumer can verify the scent is desirable, but product may be spilled or exposed to the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the scent sampling function from the opening action by providing a dedicated scent sampling port that allows consumers to smell the product through a small opening in the closure without fully opening the container. This enables scent verification while keeping the main product sealed and preventing spillage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a scent sampling port as an intermediary element between the consumer and the product. This port allows the consumer to sample the scent through a controlled opening without direct access to the product container, thus enabling scent verification while preventing product exposure or spillage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If three separate elements (container, closure, dosing cup) are used for dispensing, then each component can be optimized for its function, but the consumer must use both hands to handle all elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the closure and dosing cup into a single integrated unit, reducing the number of separate elements from three (container, closure, dosing cup) to two (container, closure-dosing cup unit). This integration maintains the functional optimization of each component while enabling one-handed operation, as the consumer only needs to handle the container and the integrated closure-dosing cup assembly.
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 design enhances durability, prevents dosing cup separation, allows consumers to sample the scent without opening the package, and simplifies dispensing with only two hands, reducing spills and ensuring a complete product experience.
Implementation Method 1
a shrink sleeve wrapping around the container and the closure and at least a portion of the tapered portion of the dosing cup wall thereby providing a redundant mechanism of engagement between the dosing cup and the container
Implementation Method 2
a shrink sleeve wrapping around the container and the closure and at least a portion of the tapered portion of the dosing cup wall thereby providing a redundant mechanism of engagement
Implementation Method 3
the dosing cup having a vent opening in the closed end or in the wall, wherein the vent opening is sized and dimensioned to retain the particulate laundry scent additive
Data Source
AI summary
A package for a particulate laundry scent additive.