Compression assisted artificial tree storage bag and associated methods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Artificial trees suffer wear and tear when their sections are separated for storage, leading to a shorter lifespan and exposure to dust and damage.
Innovation Solution
A storage device comprising a storage bag with an inner compression sleeve that compresses the artificial tree's branches as it is lifted, allowing the tree to be easily collapsed and stored without physically holding the lower portions in a collapsed configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If artificial tree sections are separated for storage, then storage space is optimized and the tree can be stored in a compact form, but wear and tear increases and the lifespan is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is segmented into multiple functional components: an outer storage bag for containment, an inner compression sleeve for compression, and a bottom support for structural stability. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while working together to solve the overall storage problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner compression sleeve is nested inside the outer storage bag, creating a layered storage system. The compression sleeve is further nested within the tree structure itself, allowing progressive compression from the inside out. This nested arrangement maximizes space efficiency while protecting the tree.
2Ease of operation
If artificial tree sections are separated for storage, then storage convenience is improved, but the tree becomes exposed to dust and other damage
Solution Approach 1:
The outer storage bag and inner compression sleeve act as flexible protective shells that completely enclose the artificial tree during storage. These thin film structures provide a barrier against dust and other harmful factors while maintaining flexibility for easy storage and retrieval operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner compression sleeve provides beforehand cushioning by compressing and protecting the tree branches before they are placed in the outer storage bag. This pre-protection ensures that the tree is already shielded and secured against potential damage before final storage.
3Volume of moving object
If the tree is compressed into a storage bag, then storage efficiency is improved, but the complexity of the storage device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner compression sleeve is designed to be self-service, allowing users to compress the tree by simply pulling the sleeve upward without needing additional tools or complex mechanisms. The sleeve's elastic properties and tapered design enable automatic compression as it is pulled, reducing the need for complex external compression devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system utilizes parameter changes in the compression sleeve's physical properties - specifically its elastic modulus and cross-sectional area variation along its length. The tapered geometry (smaller cross-section at the top, larger at the bottom) creates a gradient that facilitates easy insertion and effective compression through simple pulling motion.
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 enables easy and efficient collapse of artificial trees into a compact storage configuration, reducing wear and tear, protecting the tree from dust and damage, and facilitating storage and transportation.
Implementation Method 1
an inner compression sleeve coupled inside of the storage bag, having an internal shape that compresses the artificial tree branches and pulls them toward the center of the artificial tree when pulled up the sides of the artificial tree
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial tree storage device can have a storage bag with an expanded storage configuration and a collapsed display configuration, where the storage bag is sized to substantially enclose an artificial tree in the expanded storage position, The storage device further includes an inner compression sleeve coupled inside the storage bag near a base of the storage bag, further including a lower segment having one end coupled inside the storage bag, wherein the lower segment has an inner diameter to compress the artificial tree into the storage configuration and an upper segment coupled to the lower segment opposite the storage bag base, wherein the upper segment increases in cross sectional area from the lower segment attachment to a distal end of the upper segment, wherein the upper segment is structurally configured to cause the artificial tree to compress into the expanded storage position as the upper segment moves upward.