Sleeved Container With Pre-Weakened Sections For Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Containers with heat shrinkable sleeves pose recycling challenges as many municipalities cannot recycle them when attached, necessitating a method to easily remove the sleeve for sustainability and recycling purposes.
Innovation Solution
A container apparatus with a sleeve featuring pre-weakened sections that allow consumers to detach the sleeve into portions, preventing premature removal of the second portion containing product information until empty, facilitating recycling by allowing complete removal after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heat shrinkable sleeve is applied to a container to provide product information and tamper evident features, then the container can be securely sealed and product information can be displayed, but the container cannot be recycled in many municipalities when the sleeve is attached
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is divided into multiple detachable portions through pre-weakened sections. The first portion can be removed to allow container opening and use, while the second portion remains to maintain product information display and tamper evident features. After use, the second portion can also be removed for recycling, resolving the contradiction between maintaining security/features and enabling recyclability.
2Reliability
If the sleeve is made as a single intact structure to maintain tamper evident features and product information, then the container remains securely sealed and information is preserved, but the consumer cannot easily remove the sleeve for recycling purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is segmented into a first portion and second portion connected by a first pre-weakened section. The first portion can be easily removed for initial opening, while the second portion remains attached to maintain product information display. Both portions can ultimately be removed for recycling, providing ease of operation at different stages while maintaining information integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Pre-weakened sections are incorporated into the sleeve structure before the product reaches the consumer. These pre-defined tear lines allow the consumer to easily detach portions without requiring excessive force or special tools, making the removal process simple while preserving the sleeve's protective and informational functions during use.
3Ease of operation
If the sleeve includes multiple pre-weakened sections to allow partial removal for opening, then the container can be opened and used while maintaining product information display, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is divided into functional segments (first portion for opening, second portion for information display) connected by pre-weakened sections. This segmentation allows simple tearing actions for opening while maintaining a relatively straightforward overall structure that can be manufactured efficiently, balancing operational ease with structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-weakened sections are incorporated during manufacturing, requiring minimal additional complexity in the production process. The tear lines are pre-defined and require no additional components or mechanisms, allowing the sleeve to be opened easily by the consumer without adding significant structural complexity to the design or manufacturing process.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A container apparatus including a container and a sleeve with pre-weakened areas to facilitate detaching the sleeve from the container. The container includes a body and a cap coupled thereto. The sleeve includes tamper evident features and maintains the container in a closed and packaged state prior to purchase and use by a consumer. The sleeve includes different pre-weakened or perforated sections to permit the consumer to remove a first portion (201) of the sleeve to permit the user to open the container and use the product therein without also removing a second portion (202) of the sleeve which may contain product information. The sleeve includes an additional pre-weakened or perforated section (230) to permit the consumer to remove the second portion of the sleeve after the container is empty for sustainability purposes so that the container is more readily recyclable.