UV-Transmissive Flexible Bag Assembly for Sterilizing Waste Contents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flexible bags used in waste containers and diaper pails do not effectively transmit UV light for sterilization, and traditional biodegradable plastics fail to degrade under anaerobic conditions common in landfills, leading to environmental issues.

Innovation Solution

The flexible bag assembly is composed of multiple layers, including FEP for UV transmission and bio-assimilators for anaerobic biodegradation, with optimized chemical and structural composition to enhance UV penetration and include additives like Molybsan for antimicrobial properties, ensuring efficient sterilization and biodegradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If traditional flexible bags are used in waste containers, then they provide basic containment function, but they do not effectively transmit UV light for sterilization

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUV light transmissionVSAvoidsterilization effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible bag is constructed as a multi-layer composite structure where specific layers are made from UV-transmissive materials. This allows the bag to maintain its containment function while enabling UV light penetration for sterilization, resolving the contradiction between basic containment and UV transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions or layers of the flexible bag are assigned different material properties. Specifically, certain layers are designed with high UV transmissivity while other layers provide structural support or containment, allowing localized optimization for UV light transmission without compromising overall bag functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of stationary object

If traditional biodegradable plastics are used, then they are intended to degrade, but they fail to degrade under anaerobic conditions common in landfills

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiodegradation timeVSAvoidadaptability to anaerobic conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The biodegradation parameters of the flexible bag are optimized for anaerobic conditions by selecting materials and formulations that specifically degrade in the absence of oxygen. This enables the bag to adapt to landfill environments where anaerobic decomposition is the dominant process, resolving the contradiction between biodegradation intent and actual degradation performance in anaerobic conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If non-biodegradable materials are used for UV transmission, then UV sterilization is effective, but environmental issues arise from non-degradation in landfills

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible bag employs a composite structure where UV-transmissive layers are combined with biodegradable layers. This allows the bag to maintain effective UV sterilization capability while ensuring that components in contact with waste can biodegrade in landfill conditions, thereby reducing environmental pollution from non-degradable materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potential harm of UV-transmissive materials (non-biodegradability) into a benefit by selectively applying UV-transmissive properties only where needed for sterilization, while other portions of the bag are designed to biodegrade in landfill environments, thus turning a potential environmental problem into an eco-friendly solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 flexible bag assembly effectively sterilizes both inner and outer surfaces and contents using UV light, while degrading efficiently in anaerobic environments, reducing microplastic remnants and enhancing landfill gas recovery.

Implementation Method 1

FEP for UV transmission and bio-assimilators for anaerobic biodegradation, with optimized chemical and structural composition to enhance UV penetration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUV light transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

bio-assimilators for anaerobic biodegradation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnaerobic biodegradation: Anaerobic Digestion

Implementation Method 3

include additives like Molybsan for antimicrobial properties

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntimicrobial action:

Data Source

PatentUS20250353666A1Flexible bag assembly

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 MUNCHKIN INC

AI summary

A flexible bag assembly having at least one layer of a flexible material that permits a UV light source to penetrate through to sterilize bacterial contents on an interior of the flexible bag assembly. Transmission of the UV light source is maximized through the flexible material and to enhance a kill rate of bacteria within the interior of the flexible bag assembly. A bio-assimilator may be integrated into a composition of the flexible bag assembly to facilitate biodegradation by anaerobic degradation leaving no microplastic remnants.