Bag Rack Fixture With Multi-Row Posts for Reusable Bag Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current retail fixtures are unable to accommodate the variety of reusable shopping bags with different constructions, sizes, and shapes, leading to reduced efficiency in store operations as customers must hold these bags by hand during filling.
Innovation Solution
A bag rack fixture with a wire frame and multiple rows of posts, allowing handles of reusable bags to be extended over arms and around posts to keep the bags open, which can be mounted to existing bag racks, accommodating bags of varying heights and handle lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fixtures are designed to accommodate disposable shopping bags with known dimensions and shapes, then the fixtures can effectively hold and open the bags for efficient filling, but the fixtures cannot accommodate the variety of reusable bags with different constructions, sizes, and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture is divided into multiple rows of posts (first row, second row, third row, etc.) with increasing spacing between posts. Each row can accommodate bags of different sizes, allowing the same fixture to handle various bag types simultaneously. This segmentation enables both disposable and reusable bags to be accommodated efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixture is designed with universal applicability to hold multiple types of bags including disposable shopping bags, reusable shopping bags, and produce bags. The multi-row post structure with varying spacings allows a single fixture to serve multiple functions across different bag categories, eliminating the need for separate fixtures for each bag type.
2Ease of operation
If fixtures are designed for specific bag dimensions, then they can optimize bag holding and opening functionality, but they require replacement or modification to accommodate different reusable bag sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture employs a dynamic design where the spacing between posts varies across multiple rows rather than using a fixed uniform spacing. This dynamic structure allows the fixture to adapt to different bag sizes and shapes without requiring physical modifications or replacements, maintaining ease of operation across various bag types.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying the horizontal spacing uniformly, the invention adds a vertical dimension with multiple rows of posts at different heights and spacings. This dimensional expansion allows the fixture to accommodate various bag sizes without requiring complex modifications to the basic structure.
3Reliability
If multiple types of reusable bags are used by customers, then environmental sustainability is improved by reducing disposable bag waste, but store operations efficiency decreases as customers must hold bags by hand during filling
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture enables reusable bags to hold and open themselves without requiring customer assistance. By draping handles over appropriate posts, the bag automatically maintains its open state during filling, allowing customers to simply place items in the bag without manually holding it open, thus maintaining operational efficiency while supporting reusable bag usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The posts act as intermediaries between the bag handles and the filling process. The handles are draped over the posts, which serve as a mechanical mediator to keep the bag open and stable during filling, eliminating the need for direct manual holding by the customer while supporting various reusable bag types.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixture is provided for a bag rack. The fixture has a wire frame with two mounting plates on it for mounting the fixture to two alternative locations on a bag rack. Two fixtures are mounted to each bag rack. Each fixture includes multiple rows of posts, with two posts in each row. Handles for a reusable bag are extended over arms on the bag rack and below the posts on the fixtures to keep the reusable bag open during filling.