Solid Product Block Packaging with Water-Soluble Foil
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging solutions for solid products, such as thermo-formed blister packs and shrink-wrapped foils, pose risks of direct contact with caustic or corrosive substances during handling and loading/unloading in dispenser systems, as they either require lid removal or allow moisture entry leading to product swelling and dissolution.
Innovation Solution
A product packaging design featuring a solid product block with a handling means attached to the top and encased in a wrapping material, which prevents direct contact by positioning the handling means securely atop the block, using form-locking fasteners and protective plates, and optionally a water-soluble foil for safe handling and dispenser operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermo-formed blister packs or packages with lids are used to package solid products, then the product can be protected during storage and transport, but the user must remove the lid and handle the solid product directly, exposing the user to caustic or corrosive substances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wrapping means (foil or film) as an intermediary layer between the solid product and the user. This wrapping means is designed to be water-soluble or water-dissolvable, allowing it to be removed by water during dispenser operation without requiring direct user contact with the solid product. The wrapping means serves as a protective mediator that can be easily discarded after serving its protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrapping means is designed as a disposable component that is applied to the solid product block, serves its protective function during handling and loading, and is then discarded. The water-soluble nature of the wrapping means allows it to be easily removed and disposed of after use, eliminating the need for reusable lids or containers that would require user contact.
2Stability of the object's composition
If shrink-wrapped foils with small holes are used to allow air evacuation, then the solid product can be sealed during storage, but moisture from the atmosphere enters through the holes, causing the solid product to swell and dissolve, leading to direct contact with the product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the wrapping means by using water-soluble or water-dissolvable materials. This parameter change allows the wrapping means to maintain an airtight seal during storage and transport, preventing moisture entry. During dispenser operation, the water-soluble nature of the wrapping means allows it to be removed by water without creating direct contact pathways for the user.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a wrapping means is added to enclose the solid product block, then direct contact with the product is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible wrapping means in the form of a foil or film that can be easily applied to and removed from the solid product block. This thin film approach provides effective contact prevention while adding minimal structural complexity compared to rigid containers or multi-component packaging systems. The flexible nature of the film allows it to conform to the product shape and be easily discarded after use.
Data Source
AI summary
A product packaging may include a solid product block for a dispenser system comprises a solid product block having a top, sides, and a bottom, a handle attached to the top of the solid product block, and a water-soluble foil enclosing the solid product block or the handle. Thus, a safe handling of the solid product block when loading or unloading the substance from a dispenser is enhanced without the risk of a person handling the substance getting into direct contact with the substance.