Breakable Wax Melts with Theme-Specific Shapes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current breakable wax melts are indistinguishable by scent or theme beyond labels and color, making it difficult to differentiate between different scents or themes.

Innovation Solution

Arrays of breakable wax melts with distinct shapes corresponding to specific themes, such as perfume mixtures, holidays, or seasons, and containers with matching receptacles to house these melts, allowing for differentiation through shape and perfume mixture variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If breakable wax melts are differentiated only by label and color, then manufacturing is simple, but differentiation between scents or themes is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidscent/theme differentiation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by giving each wax melt a unique shape that corresponds to its theme (e.g., snowflake shape for winter theme, pumpkin shape for fall theme). This asymmetric shaping allows users to visually and tactilely distinguish between different scents and themes without relying solely on labels and color, thereby improving differentiation while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through mold-based production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of manufacture

If breakable wax melts are made in uniform shapes, then manufacturing is easier, but user ability to identify and separate different scents is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoidscent identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the shape characteristics of different wax melts to correspond with their specific themes and scents. Each wax melt has a distinct local shape quality (e.g., pointed edges for certain themes, rounded edges for others, specific geometric configurations) that enables users to easily identify and separate different scents by touch and sight, while the overall manufacturing process remains efficient through standardized molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3287512B1Array of breakable wax melts and array of containers for breakable wax melts
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO
  • EP3287512B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3287512B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3287512B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An array of breakable wax melts is provided. The array includes a first breakable wax melt having a first shape that corresponds with a first theme. The array also includes a second breakable wax melt having a second shape that is different from the first shape, wherein the second shape corresponds to a second theme. The first and second themes are each selected from the group consisting of: a perfume mixture, holiday, season, a graphic on a container for containing the first or second breakable wax melts, and combinations thereof. An array of containers for containing the breakable wax melts is also provided.