Reclosable Bag Gripping Panels Pivoting Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reclosable plastic bags lack effective features for easy opening, making it difficult for users to access their contents without damaging the closure structure.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates gripping panels with flexible joints that extend outward from the top edge margin of the bag, allowing users to pivot and separate the panels to open the bag easily, while maintaining a reclosable closure mechanism using interlocking profiles and child-resistant features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reclosable closing structure is used to repeatedly close the bag, then the bag can be sealed and resealed, but it becomes difficult to open without damaging the closure structure
Solution Approach 1:
The closure structure is segmented into a body portion and separate gripping panels that are pivotally connected. This segmentation allows the gripping panels to be moved independently to open the closure without applying excessive force to the interlocking profiles, thereby enabling easy opening while maintaining reliable reclosing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping panels serve as intermediary elements between the user and the closure mechanism. By providing dedicated gripping surfaces that are pivotally connected to the closure body, the design mediates the opening action, allowing users to easily initiate opening without directly manipulating the interlocking profiles themselves.
2Ease of operation
If the bag has features for gripping when opening, then it is easier to open the bag, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping panels serve multiple functions: they provide gripping surfaces for users, act as levers to initiate opening of the closure, and guide the separation of the interlocking profiles. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity while improving ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the gripping panels extend outwardly away from one another, then users can apply separation forces in various directions, but the bag occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping panels are designed to be movable relative to the closure body through pivotal connections. This dynamic configuration allows the panels to extend outwardly when needed for gripping and applying separation forces in various directions, while potentially being positioned more compactly when not in use, thus balancing opening flexibility with space efficiency.
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 secure opening of the bag by allowing users to apply separation forces in various directions, ensuring a robust and tamper-resistant closure that can be repeatedly opened and closed without damage.
Implementation Method 1
The first joint connects the first gripping panel to the first bag panel and is configured to allow the first gripping panel to be pivoted about the first joint with respect to the first bag panel
Data Source
AI summary
A bag has top and bottom edge margins and opposite side margins. First and second bag panels of the bag define a bag interior and an opening at the top edge margin of the bag. A reclosable closing structure at the top edge margin of the bag can repeatedly close the bag. First and second gripping panels are joined to the top edge margin of the bag at first and second joints, respectively. The gripping panels can provide surfaces for gripping when opening the bag, and the joints can be flexible to allow pivoting of the gripping panels relative to the bag. The gripping panels can be formed integrally with a closure for appending to a bag body.