Portable Bag Dispenser Casing for Protected Leash-Mounted Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bag dispensing devices are cumbersome, prone to child manipulation, and expose bag rolls to the elements, while using expensive polymers like ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer for odor retention.
Innovation Solution
A portable bag dispenser unit with a casing having a hinged front and rear portion, axially-aligned bag roll axles, and a holder, allowing easy bag dispensing and attachment to a pet leash, using a snap fastener and elastomer materials for flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bags are made from ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer for odor retention, then odor sealing performance is improved, but material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bag structure uses different materials for different functions: the body is made from conventional polymer while only the seal portions use ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. This localized application of expensive material achieves odor sealing performance where needed without incurring high material costs throughout the entire bag.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag employs a composite structure combining conventional polymer material for the bag body with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer for seal portions. This composite approach leverages the cost-effectiveness of conventional materials while utilizing the superior odor-blocking properties of EVOH only where required for sealing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a closed casing is used to protect bag rolls from the elements, then protection is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The front casing portion is hinged to allow dynamic opening and closing. This enables the bag roll to be easily accessed and bags to be dispensed while maintaining protection when closed, resolving the contradiction between protection and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The casing is divided into a fixed rear portion and a hinged front portion. This segmentation allows the front to open independently for bag dispensing while the rear remains closed to protect the bag roll, achieving both protection and ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If a simple opening is used for bag dispensing, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to exposure to elements
Solution Approach 1:
The hinged front casing creates a dynamic opening mechanism that can be opened for dispensing and closed for protection. This dynamic structure provides both easy access for bag retrieval and reliable protection when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinged front casing acts as an intermediary between the open and closed states, allowing controlled access to the bag roll while maintaining overall enclosure. This intermediary structure enables easy operation without compromising protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A bag dispenser unit for dispensing bags is presented, with a casing having a front casing portion mounted to a rear casing portion to define an inner cavity therewithin for receiving a bag roll. The rear casing portion includes a pair of axially-aligned bag roll axles along a bag roll axis for engaging an interior of the bag roll, the bag roll rotatable about the bag roll axis. An opening is defined through the front casing portion for outletting a free end of the bag roll to dispense the bags. A holder is operatively coupled to the casing.