Squeeze Container Balloon Design for Stable Liquid Delivery

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing squeeze containers face challenges in delivering a stable and appropriate amount of content, especially when the remaining amount is small, due to changes in container shape and size, and issues with deformability and operational freedom, leading to difficulties in stopping content delivery rapidly and accurately measuring high viscosity liquids.

Innovation Solution

A squeeze container design featuring a sheet-shaped elastic body, pressurization means, and an air-bleeding device with integrated check valves that allows for controlled content delivery and easy restoration of the container's original state, ensuring stable delivery even with low content levels and preventing liquid upraising during filling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the container is compressed with the same force, then the content is delivered, but when the remaining amount of content becomes small, the delivery amount becomes less

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery amount of contentVSAvoidstability of content delivery
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The container body is designed with a balloon portion that dynamically changes volume during operation. The balloon portion expands as content is delivered and contracts when refilled, maintaining consistent pressure transmission regardless of remaining content volume. This dynamic adaptation ensures stable delivery characteristics throughout the product lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state of the container body changes from a fixed rigid structure to a flexible balloon portion that can expand and contract. This parameter change allows the container to adapt its internal volume and pressure characteristics, ensuring consistent delivery performance whether the container is full or nearly empty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If soft material is used to facilitate deformation, then the container is easy to squeeze, but the container becomes unlikely to return from a deformed state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeformability of containerVSAvoidrestoration to original state
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The container body utilizes a balloon portion made of flexible material that can be easily deformed by hand squeezing. This flexible shell design enables comfortable operation while maintaining the ability to return to its original shape through material elasticity and structural design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The container body is designed with a balloon portion that dynamically changes volume during operation. The balloon portion expands as content is delivered and contracts when refilled, maintaining consistent pressure transmission regardless of remaining content volume. This dynamic adaptation ensures stable delivery characteristics throughout the product lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the container is compressed, then content is pushed out, but it becomes difficult to stop content delivery rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent delivery rateVSAvoidability to stop delivery
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The check valve provides immediate feedback by automatically closing when squeezing force is released, stopping content delivery rapidly. This passive feedback mechanism responds to the user's action (releasing the squeeze) and immediately halts flow, giving the user precise control over delivery timing and amount.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The check valve automatically performs the function of stopping content delivery without requiring additional user action. When the user releases the squeeze on the balloon portion, the check valve self-activates to close the delivery passage, providing rapid stopping capability as part of the normal operation cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Volume of moving object

If the inner container becomes small, then the space between inner and outer container becomes large, but delivery amount becomes less

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of inner containerVSAvoiddelivery amount of content
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The container body is designed with a balloon portion that dynamically changes volume during operation. The balloon portion expands as content is delivered and contracts when refilled, maintaining consistent pressure transmission regardless of remaining content volume. This dynamic adaptation ensures stable delivery characteristics throughout the product lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The balloon portion functions as a pneumatic element that uses air pressure to transmit force uniformly to the content. As the balloon expands or contracts, the pneumatic pressure ensures consistent delivery force is applied to the content, maintaining delivery amount stability regardless of the container's current volume state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 enables stable and controlled delivery of content, rapid stopping of delivery, and accurate measurement of high viscosity liquids, improving usability and operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

pressurization means which swells the elastic body to the storage portion side with air pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

sheet-shaped elastic body which is arranged on the storage portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 3

check valve which opens an intake passage to suck outer air at the time when the squeezing is released

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 4

an air-bleeding device which discharges air swelling the elastic body to the outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure release: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentEP2554490B1Squeeze container
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 KAO CORP
  • EP2554490B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2554490B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2554490B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A squeeze container (1) of the present invention includes a concave storage portion (2) in which a content is stored, a sheet-shaped elastic body (3) which is arranged to cover an opening portion of the storage portion (2), pressurization means (4) which swells the elastic body (3) to the storage portion (2) side with gas pressure, and a delivery passage (5) which provides communication between the inside and outside of the storage portion (2) and which delivers the content squeezed by the elastic body (3) to the outside. It is preferable that the pressurization means (4) is structured to be capable of gradually swelling the elastic body (3) by repeating squeezing with a hand and releasing thereof.