Sterile Package with Separable Handling Portion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging solutions fail to maintain a sterile environment during product handling and removal, risking contamination and complicating the process with multiple steps and non-sterile surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A package design featuring a housing portion and a separable handling portion with a gradient of bond strengths, utilizing release layers and lines of weakness to facilitate easy separation and maintain sterility, allowing for one-handed removal of products without exposing them to non-sterile surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the package is designed as a single integrated structure, then manufacturing is simpler, but sterile presentation and product removal are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidsterile presentation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The package is divided into separate components: a housing portion containing the product and a handling portion for user interaction. These portions are connected through a separation feature that allows controlled separation, enabling the handling portion to be removed without compromising the sterile integrity of the housing portion containing the product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the package requires multiple steps and hands for product removal, then complete separation is achieved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterile presentationVSAvoidhandling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The handling portion is integrated with the housing portion through a continuous film structure that includes both the separation feature and the product sealing feature. This merging allows the package to be opened and the handling portion to be separated in a single continuous motion using one hand, while maintaining sterile presentation through the controlled separation path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the handling portion remains attached to the housing portion, then structural integrity is maintained, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The film structure exhibits different bond strengths at different locations: the separation feature has a first bond strength that allows easy separation, while the product sealing feature has a second bond strength that maintains structural integrity. This local differentiation enables controlled separation at the handling portion while preserving the sealed integrity of the product containment area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If release layers with uniform bond strength are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but controlled separation is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease layer fabricationVSAvoidseparation control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The release layer is designed with spatially varying bond strengths: a first region with a first bond strength for controlled separation at the handling portion, and a second region with a second bond strength for maintaining sealing at the product interface. This local quality variation enables both easy separation and maintained structural integrity without complicating the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 package ensures sterile presentation and easy product removal by allowing separation of the handling and housing portions, reducing contamination risk and simplifying the handling process with minimal steps and contact with non-sterile surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

a bonding layer coupling the first part of the first film to the first part of the second film

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

The separation feature includes a first release layer and a second release layer adjacent to the first release layer provided between the first film and the second film at an overlapping portion of the housing portion and the handling portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRelease layer effect: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS10266329B2Packages and methods for manufacturing packages

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 BEMIS COMPANY INC

AI summary

A package that includes a housing portion, a handling portion and a separation feature. The separation feature facilitates separation of the handling and housing portions. The separation feature includes a first release layer and a second release layer adjacent to the first release layer provided between the first and second films at an overlapping portion of the housing portion and the handling portion.