Bag Stand with Interlocking Panel Tabs for Refuse Bag Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Filling refuse bags with non-solid or loose materials, such as leaves or sticks, is difficult due to their non-rigid and flexible nature, often requiring two hands and causing the bag to collapse.
Innovation Solution
A bag stand that supports and holds open a refuse bag vertically, allowing users to fill it without manually holding the bag open, featuring a structure of interconnected side panels with hinged panel tabs that form a stable, interlocking interface to prevent collapse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a refuse bag is made non-rigid and flexible for easy handling, then it becomes difficult to fill with loose materials without manual support and the bag collapses
Solution Approach 1:
A rigid support structure acts as an intermediary between the user and the flexible refuse bag. This support structure provides the necessary stability to hold the bag open during filling operations, while the bag itself remains flexible for easy handling. The support structure mediates between the conflicting requirements of bag flexibility and structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into multiple interconnected panels that can be assembled to form a stable framework. This segmentation allows the support structure to provide rigidity where needed while maintaining overall flexibility in the bag system. The modular panel design enables easy assembly and disassembly.
2Ease of operation
If a rigid support structure is added to hold the bag open, then filling becomes easier, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into multiple panels that can be independently assembled and configured. This segmentation reduces overall complexity by allowing modular assembly rather than requiring a single complex rigid structure. Each panel is relatively simple in design, but together they provide the necessary support functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure incorporates movable and adjustable elements that allow it to adapt to different bag sizes and filling requirements. This dynamic capability reduces the need for multiple different support structures, simplifying the overall device while maintaining ease of operation across various scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a bag stand including at least three side panels, each side panel having a top end, a bottom end, a left end, a right end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, each side panel having two adjacent side panels, each right end of each side panel connected to the left end of one of the adjacent side panels and each left end of each side panel connected to the right end of the other adjacent side panel, thereby forming a substantially continuous bag stand having a top end and a bottom end and a plurality of panel tabs, each panel tab hingedly connected to the top end of the bag stand, each panel tab having at least one interfacing end for connection to at least one other of the plurality of panel tabs.