Tufted Freezer Bag Segmentation to Reduce Freeze Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing freezer bags for fluids face issues with uneven freezing, leading to projections that cause damage, contamination, and increased shipping costs due to reduced liquid volume to prevent expansion, which limits storage and shelf-life.
Innovation Solution
The use of tufted freezer bags with a pliable housing and tufting that divides the cavity into regions, allowing for uniform freezing and reducing projections, along with a storage system that includes a rigid container for secure stacking and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid volume is decreased prior to freezing to reduce bag damage, then bag damage is reduced, but unused space within the container increases which increases shipping cost
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is divided into multiple regions by tufting elements that extend from the first wall toward the second wall. These tufting elements create separate compartments within the cavity, allowing the liquid to be distributed across multiple smaller regions rather than one large volume. This segmentation enables the bag to accommodate the full liquid volume while preventing the formation of large projections during freezing, as each region freezes more uniformly with smaller expansion forces.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If liquid volume is decreased prior to freezing to prevent expansion, then expansion damage is reduced, but shipping cost increases due to unused space
Solution Approach 1:
The tufting elements divide the cavity into multiple regions, distributing the liquid volume across these regions. During freezing, each region experiences smaller expansion forces compared to a single large volume, preventing bag damage while allowing the bag to be filled to its maximum capacity for efficient shipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The tufting elements create localized structural features within the cavity that modify the freezing behavior of the liquid in specific regions. The tufting-induced regions have different thermal and mechanical properties that promote uniform freezing and reduce expansion damage locally, while the overall bag maintains full liquid volume capacity.
3Reliability
If uniform freezing is achieved through tufting, then projections are reduced and bag integrity is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tufting elements are integrated into the flexible membrane walls of the bag, utilizing the pliability of the membrane material to create the tufting structure. This approach maintains bag flexibility and integrity while introducing the necessary structural complexity for uniform freezing. The tufting elements can be formed directly into the membrane during manufacturing, minimizing additional complexity.
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 enables uniform freezing of fluids, reduces bag damage, facilitates stacking, and increases storage capacity without compromising bag integrity, while maintaining the ability to handle larger fluid volumes without deformation during freezing.
Implementation Method 1
the regions increase uniform freezing of the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A bag assembly includes a first panel secured to a second panel by a seam so that a cavity is formed between the first panel and the second panel, the seam encircling the cavity. A first seal couples together the first panel and the second panel at a location spaced apart from the seam so that the cavity encircles the first seal. In one embodiment, the first seal can be circular. A first port communicates with the cavity.