Storage Bag Zipper Restrictive Element for Partial Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage bags with zippers face challenges such as difficulty in maintaining a partial opening, leading to items falling out, and lack of security when not in use. Additionally, current designs often require rummaging to find items, and the zipper mechanism can be unreliable for partial unzipping.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a back panel with flaps that lie flat when unzipped, featuring a zipper around the outer edge. A restrictive element with a fastener mechanism spans the zipper, allowing for selective opening and preventing the zipper from fully unzipping, thus maintaining security and easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a zipper is used to enclose the bag, then security and enclosure are improved, but the ability to maintain a partial opening is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
A restrictive element acts as an intermediary between the zipper slider and the zipper teeth. This element can be selectively positioned to either allow the zipper to remain partially open or to prevent the slider from moving, thereby maintaining security while enabling controlled partial access.
Solution Approach 2:
The restrictive element is designed to be dynamically positionable along the zipper. It can be moved to different locations depending on whether full security or partial access is desired, allowing the system to adapt between fully zipped, partially zipped, and fully unzipped states.
2Ease of operation
If the zipper can be partially unzipped for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability is worsened as the zipper slips and unzips entirely
Solution Approach 1:
The restrictive element serves as a mediator that prevents the zipper slider from slipping past the desired position. When engaged, it physically blocks the slider from moving further, ensuring that partial openings remain stable and items do not fall out.
Solution Approach 2:
The restrictive element applies a preliminary counteracting force to prevent the harmful action of the zipper slider slipping. By positioning the restrictive element before the slider can slip, it anticipates and prevents the unwanted full unzipping.
3Volume of moving object
If items are stored in a flat bag configuration, then compactness is improved, but accessibility is worsened as items require rummaging to find
Solution Approach 1:
The bag is segmented into multiple compartments and pockets that maintain their organization even when the bag is in a flat, compressed state. This segmentation allows items to be logically grouped and accessed without requiring the entire bag to be opened or items to be rummaged through.
Solution Approach 2:
Smaller pockets and compartments are nested within the larger bag structure. This nested organization allows items to be stored in hierarchical groups, enabling users to access specific items by opening only the relevant smaller pocket rather than searching the entire bag.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a bag comprising a back panel and one or more flaps extending from the back panel, wherein the back panel and the one or more flaps lay substantially flat when in an unzipped configuration, a zipper attached to and extending around an outer edge of the back panel and the one or more flaps, wherein the one or more flaps form a first side panel, a second side panel, and a front panel of the bag when the bag is in a zipped configuration, a restrictive element having a first end attached to the bag on a first side of the zipper and a second end selectively attached to the bag on a second side of the zipper using a fastener element, wherein, when the second end is engaged on the second side of the zipper, the restrictive element spans the zipper and restricts operation thereof.