Bag holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic bags are difficult to fill with liquids like hot grease safely and are not easily washable in dishwashers due to lack of effective support, leading to scalding hazards and inadequate cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A bag holding system comprising a base, a V-shaped support frame, and a resilient funnel that securely holds the plastic bag in place on a countertop for filling and allows it to be inverted and retained in a dishwasher rack for cleaning, using dishwasher-safe materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If plastic bags are held open by hand for filling, then the bag can be filled with liquids, but the user's hands are dangerously close to the bag opening and prone to scalding from hot liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a funnel as an intermediary device between the user and the hot liquid. The funnel has a wide top opening that allows the user to pour liquid safely from a distance, and a narrow bottom opening that fits into the plastic bag. This mediator transfers the liquid while keeping the user's hands away from the hot substance and bag opening, thus resolving the scalding hazard while maintaining ease of filling.
2Ease of manufacture
If plastic bags are placed inverted over dish rack prongs for washing, then the bags can be cleaned, but the bags are not retained in position sufficiently and are blown off by hot water spray pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a resilient (flexible) funnel that can dynamically adapt to different conditions. During filling, the funnel maintains its shape to guide liquid. During washing, when inverted in the dishwasher, the resilient funnel can flex and deform under water pressure but returns to its original shape, maintaining engagement with the bag opening and preventing the bag from being blown off. This dynamic property resolves the contradiction between simple setup and reliable retention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If plastic bags are reused multiple times, then plastic waste to landfills is reduced, but there is no easy means of supporting the bags in a dishwasher for sufficient cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal funnel device that serves multiple functions: it facilitates safe filling of plastic bags with hot liquids, and it enables effective washing of reusable bags in dishwashers. The funnel's design with a wide top and narrow bottom that fits the bag opening makes it applicable to standard plastic bags. By providing this multi-functional tool, the patent makes bag reuse practical and easy, resolving the contradiction between reusability and ease of washing.
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 safe and easy filling of plastic bags with liquids and ensures thorough washing in a dishwasher, reducing the risk of scalding and improving cleaning efficiency while being inexpensive and easy to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
A resilient funnel has bottom panel with a fill aperture therethrough and two side panels projecting upwardly therefrom at two opposing sides of the bottom panel
Implementation Method 2
the bottom panel of the funnel is sloped towards the aperture so that liquid impacting the bottom panel outside of the aperture will roll down into the aperture and ultimately into the plastic bag
Implementation Method 3
When released the resiliency of the support frame pushes the side frames outwardly towards the original uncompressed position to engage the dish rack to hold the plastic bag in place inverted in the dish rack
Data Source
AI summary
A bag holding system facilitates filling a plastic bag while the plastic bag is supported on a support surface, and further provides for facilitating washing of the plastic bag in a dishwasher. A base has a bottom member and two side members that extend upwardly from the base at two opposing sides thereof. A V-shaped support frame has a bottom frame and two side frames extending upwardly from the bottom frame at two opposing sides thereof. The support frame is adapted to be inserted into the baes between the two side members of the base, the base holding the support frame in a substantially upright position. A funnel has bottom panel with a fill aperture therethrough and two side panels projecting upwardly therefrom at two opposing sides of the bottom panel. Each side panel further includes an outwardly-extending flange at a top side thereof.