Air-Cushioned Bag With Electric Pump and Pressure Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Luggage and shipping bags lack effective cushioning to safely transport fragile items, and existing solutions fail to address issues of empty space, bag identification, and security against terrorism.
Innovation Solution
An air-cushioned bag with electrically inflatable walls, a pressure regulator, GPS device, electronic lock, and explosive sensor, allowing for remote control and tracking, and featuring a unique electronic ID for secure and safe transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed pre-inflated or manually inflatable air cushions are used, then cushioning is provided, but the bag cannot be inflated after packing to fill empty space
Solution Approach 1:
The bag transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one by incorporating an electric pump that can inflate the flexible walls after the bag is packed and closed. This allows the cushioning volume to adapt dynamically to the actual contents, filling empty spaces that rigid or pre-inflated structures cannot accommodate.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag performs its own inflation service through an integrated electric pump system that can be activated after packing. The pressure sensor automatically detects when sufficient cushioning is achieved, allowing the system to self-regulate and eliminate the need for external assistance or complex manual inflation procedures.
2Loss of information
If the bag is not transparent, then structural integrity is maintained, but the traveler cannot see the condition of belongings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical solution of transparency (making the bag material see-through) with an electronic sensing system. Pressure sensors embedded in the walls detect the condition of belongings indirectly through pressure changes, providing information about the contents without requiring visual transparency.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensors act as intermediaries between the belongings and the traveler. Instead of directly observing the contents through transparent material, the traveler receives indirect information about the condition of belongings through pressure data transmitted by the sensors, which infer the state of packed items.
3Ease of manufacture
If bags have similar sizes and colors, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but identification on luggage belt becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs LED lights that can change color or illuminate in different patterns to provide dynamic identification for the bag. This allows easily manufactured bags with similar appearances to be distinguished through active optical signaling, solving the identification problem without requiring complex manufacturing processes for unique visual designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The identification system uses periodic or intermittent lighting patterns to attract attention and enable bag identification on the luggage belt. The lights can flash or change states periodically, making the bag distinguishable from others without requiring permanent visual differences in the bag structure itself.
4Loss of information
If no tracking mechanism is installed, then device simplicity is maintained, but bag tracking after manufacture is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The GPS device and transmitter are integrated into the existing bag structure, serving multiple functions including location tracking, security monitoring, and potentially communication with the pressure sensor system. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive bag management capabilities beyond simple tracking.
5Reliability
If no explosive sensor is installed, then device simplicity is maintained, but security against terrorism is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The explosive sensor is integrated with the existing electronic systems in the bag, including the transmitter and controller. The sensor data is combined with other monitoring functions, allowing security detection to be performed alongside other bag management tasks, thereby reducing the relative complexity increase from adding security functionality.
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 air-cushioned bag provides optimal cushioning regardless of object volume, enhances bag identification, and increases security by enabling remote tracking and explosive detection, reducing damage and terrorism risks.
Implementation Method 1
The space between the fixed outer walls and the flexible inner walls is filled with air by an electric pump
Implementation Method 2
a pressure regulator to control the air pressure inside the bag walls
Implementation Method 3
pressure sensors attached inside the bag to the outer walls
Data Source
AI summary
An air-cushioned bag for safely and securely transporting objects (9) is comprised of a housing (1) to store objects (9), an electric pump (3), a pressure sensor (6) and an electrical power source (5). The housing walls are filled with air to different pre-determined pressure values depending on the types of objects (9) to provide safe transportation. The bag also has an electronic controller (12), a unique electronic ID, an electronic lock (10), a remote control (14), an explosive sensor (19) and a GPS device (16). The unique electronic ID and the explosive sensor (19) facilitate secure transportation of the bag. The bag can be remotely tracked during transportation with the remote control (14) or a computer equipped with a GPS tracking system.