Structured Unit Dose Cleansing Product Without Film Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unit dose pod detergents pose safety risks due to mistaken consumption by children, generate waste from defective packaging, and lack user control over detergent dosage.
Innovation Solution
A structured unit dose dissolvable article composed of a cleansing composition and a structurant, which includes fatty acids and water-soluble polymers, eliminating the need for film packaging and allowing for controlled detergent usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pod detergent is packaged in a water soluble film, then water solubility and handling are improved, but safety risks increase due to mistaken consumption by children
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the water-soluble film packaging entirely, extracting the problematic element that caused safety risks. The detergent is formulated to be free-standing and stable in its final form without requiring film encapsulation, thereby eliminating the choking and eye burn hazards associated with broken film and concentrated liquid detergent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the detergent composition itself, formulating it with specific viscosity modifiers and structurants that enable it to maintain stability and structure without film packaging. This parameter change allows the detergent to be handled safely while remaining effective.
2Productivity
If pod detergent uses a film package, then water solubility is improved, but manufacturing waste increases from defective wrapping and trimmed film
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the film packaging component entirely, removing the source of manufacturing waste from defective wrapping and excessive trimming. The detergent composition is engineered to achieve its functional water solubility characteristics through its chemical formulation rather than through film dissolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the compositional parameters of the detergent to include specific solubility-enhancing ingredients and structural components that provide the necessary water interaction properties without requiring a film matrix, thereby eliminating film-related manufacturing waste.
3Reliability
If pod detergent is packaged in film, then containment is improved, but user control over dosage is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detergent into discrete, pre-measured units (such as individual tablets or portions) that users can easily separate and control. This segmentation allows users to dispense exact dosages by simply separating the desired number of units, providing both reliable containment and user control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a detergent system that transitions from a static, sealed pod to a dynamic, user-controllable format where portions can be easily separated, measured, and dispensed as needed, enabling both containment and dosage flexibility.
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 solution provides a safer, waste-reducing, and controllable cleansing product that dissolves on contact with water, ensuring effective cleaning while minimizing environmental impact and child safety hazards.
Implementation Method 1
a structured unit dose dissolvable article contains a cleansing composition and a structurant composition... the structurant composition includes a C6 to C30 fatty acid or mixtures thereof, and at least one water soluble or water dispersible polymer
Implementation Method 2
at least one water soluble or water dispersible polymer... the structured unit dose dissolvable article... dissolves on contact with water
Implementation Method 3
the structurant composition includes a C6 to C30 fatty acid or mixtures thereof... ensuring effective cleaning
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology relates to a formulation for a unit does cleansing product without the use of a film package, which contains a basic cleansing composition and a structurant comprising C6-C30 fatty acid or mixtures thereof and at least one water soluble polymer or water dispersible polymer.