Water-Soluble Refill Dose Article for Concentrated Cleanser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid cleansers have high water content, leading to increased manufacturing, packaging, and shipping costs, as well as difficulties in refilling due to weight and messiness, and challenges in achieving desired viscosity and lather upon dilution.
Innovation Solution
A water-soluble refill dose article with dual compartments, one containing a rheology modifier and the other an alkaline substance, which, when mixed with water, activates the rheology modifier to achieve a cleanser viscosity of 2000-50,000 cps, reducing packaging weight and simplifying refilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If liquid cleansers use high water content formulation, then the cleanser achieves proper dilution and lather, but the packaging weight and shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleanser system is segmented into two separate compartments: a water-soluble film compartment containing concentrated cleanser ingredients and a separate water compartment. This segmentation allows the cleanser to be shipped in a lightweight, concentrated form while still achieving proper dilution when the compartments are combined with water, thus reducing packaging weight without compromising the necessary water content for proper cleanser performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the concentration parameter of the cleanser formulation by using a highly concentrated formulation (with less than 10% water by weight) that is packaged in a water-soluble film. When this concentrated formulation is combined with water in the dispenser, the final cleanser achieves the desired dilution level, thereby reducing the weight of the packaged cleanser while maintaining proper performance.
2Weight of moving object
If concentrated cleanser is used to reduce packaging weight, then shipping costs decrease, but achieving desired viscosity and lather becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The water-soluble film acts as an intermediary carrier that delivers the concentrated cleanser ingredients to the water in the dispenser. This intermediary mechanism ensures that when the concentrated formulation is combined with water, the rheology modifiers and surfactants are properly dispersed and activated to achieve the desired viscosity and lather, solving the problem of maintaining performance with concentrated formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses rheology modifiers that undergo parameter changes upon activation. These modifiers are present in a dormant state in the concentrated formulation but transform into active thickening agents when activated by alkaline substances and water, thereby achieving the desired viscosity and lather performance despite the concentrated nature of the packaged cleanser.
3Ease of operation
If traditional liquid cleanser dispensers are used, then proper hygiene is maintained, but refilling is difficult due to weight and messiness
Solution Approach 1:
The refill system is segmented into a lightweight water-soluble film compartment containing concentrated cleanser and a separate water source. This segmentation dramatically reduces the weight of the refill material compared to traditional liquid cleanser bottles, making refilling easier and less messy while still allowing proper fills into the dispenser.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a disposable water-soluble film compartment that dissolves after a single use. This eliminates the need for heavy, reusable refill bottles and caps, significantly simplifying the refilling process and reducing weight while maintaining proper dispenser filling capabilities.
4Weight of moving object
If concentrated cleanser is packaged in water-soluble film, then packaging weight is reduced, but shelf stability in the compartment becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The concentrated cleanser formulation is segmented into separate compartments within the water-soluble film, separating the rheology modifiers from the alkaline activators. This segmentation prevents unwanted chemical reactions during storage while maintaining shelf stability, and allows both components to be delivered to the water in the dispenser where they will activate properly.
Solution Approach 2:
The water-soluble film acts as a protective intermediary barrier that isolates the sensitive concentrated cleanser ingredients from the external environment during storage. This intermediary protection maintains shelf stability by preventing premature activation or degradation, while still allowing the film to dissolve and release the ingredients when placed in water during use.
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 reduces packaging weight, simplifies refilling, and maintains desired viscosity and lather, addressing the inefficiencies and challenges of traditional liquid cleansers.
Implementation Method 1
The first composition comprises a rheology modifier and a first surfactant that does not activate the rheology modifier. The second composition comprises an alkaline substance that when mixed with the first composition and water activates the rheology modifier to increase the viscosity of a resulting cleanser
Implementation Method 2
A water-soluble refill dose article dissolvable in water to form a liquid cleanser
Data Source
AI summary
Water-soluble refill dose articles for forming a cleanser have a water-soluble film defining a first compartment enclosing a first composition and a second compartment enclosing a second composition, which are individual separate articles or are part of an integral article. The first composition has a rheology modifier, a first surfactant, 10% or less by weight water, 20% or less by weight glycol, and the first surfactant does not activate the rheology modifier. The second compartment has an alkaline substance that when mixed with the first composition and water activates the rheology modifier to increase the viscosity of a resulting cleanser and 10% or less by weight water. When the article is diluted in water at a 1:1 to 1:20 ratio, it produces a cleanser having a viscosity within a range of 2000 cps to 50,000 cps.