Absorbent Bag Drying Wedge for Complete Interior Air Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for drying plastic bags are either complex and expensive or fail to fully open the baggie, leading to incomplete drying and potential mold/mildew growth, rendering them unusable.
Innovation Solution
A simple, inexpensive device with a base and wedge-shaped body made from moisture-absorbent materials that holds the baggie open for complete drying, optionally using an expander wedge for larger bags, ensuring the entire interior is dry and deodorized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drying rack device is designed to hold baggies open for drying, then drying effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous drying rack material that absorbs moisture directly from the baggie interior through capillary action. The porous structure provides numerous channels for moisture wicking while maintaining a simple monolithic geometry, eliminating the need for complex mechanical opening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying rack is designed to automatically absorb and remove moisture from the baggie without requiring external energy input or active control systems. The passive capillary wicking mechanism performs the drying function autonomously, reducing device complexity while maintaining effectiveness.
2Ease of manufacture
If the drying device structure is simplified for lower cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the ability to fully open and dry the entire baggie interior is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The simplified monolithic drying rack structure achieves complete drying capability through its porous material properties. The capillary networks throughout the porous structure extend moisture absorption to all areas of contact with the baggie, including corners and edges, eliminating the need for complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying rack utilizes the vertical dimension with its tapered geometry to push the baggie open and create airflow channels. The three-dimensional porous structure provides moisture absorption pathways in multiple directions, enabling complete interior drying with a simple geometric form.
3Device complexity
If baggies are allowed to air dry in their closed state, then no additional device is needed, but mold and mildew growth occurs in the closed interior
Solution Approach 1:
The porous drying rack material actively wicks moisture from the baggie interior through capillary action, preventing the moisture accumulation that leads to mold and mildew growth. This passive moisture removal mechanism protects against harmful biological growth without requiring complex active drying systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying rack is designed as an inexpensive, simple device that can be easily replaced if needed. Its low cost allows consumers to purchase multiple units or replace them readily, providing an affordable solution to prevent mold and mildew compared to the cost of replacing contaminated baggies.
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
Facilitates complete and efficient drying of plastic bags, preventing mold and mildew growth while being cost-effective and easy to produce, making it economically attractive to consumers.
Implementation Method 1
The base and the body wedge are each made from a moisture absorbent material, such as sponge, foam, terrycloth, etc.
Implementation Method 2
The base and the body wedge are each made from a moisture absorbent material
Data Source
AI summary
A plastic bag drying device uses a body member that has a base with upwardly and inwardly tapering side faces and end faces and a wedge shaped body wedge extending upwardly from a top of the base. The base and the body wedge may be monolithic in construction and are made from an appropriate moisture absorbent material, such as sponge or foam. Baggies are placed atop the body wedge and held open by the device and allowed to air dry any moisture within the baggie not already absorbed by the body itself. An optional slot allows two smaller baggies to be fitted over the body wedge. An expander wedge can be placed onto the body wedge in order to accommodate relatively large baggies.