Bellows-Folded Bandage Stack for Compact Storage and Wastage Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional elongated, strip-like film bandages face issues with material wastage due to difficulty in unwinding and cutting the desired length, tendency to curl, and complex packaging, leading to inefficient use and storage.

Innovation Solution

The bandage is bellows-folded into a stack with adjacent parts connected on two sides, featuring fold notches in the stiffening layer, allowing easy re-folding and storage in a rectangular box, reducing material wastage and simplifying handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the bandage is supplied rolled together into a roll, then the bandage can be stored in a compact form, but it is difficult to judge how much to unwind and leads to material wastage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidmaterial wastage
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The bandage is divided into multiple folded sections (first folded section, second folded section, third folded section) that are stacked one on top of another. Each section represents a discrete portion of the bandage, allowing users to easily count and select the required length without unwinding the entire roll, thus preventing material wastage while maintaining compact storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the bandage is supplied rolled together into a roll, then the bandage can be stored in a compact form, but the packaging becomes complicated to prevent automatic curling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidpackaging complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bandage is segmented into multiple folded sections that are stacked and secured together. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex packaging structures designed to prevent roll curling, as the folded stack naturally maintains its shape and does not require additional constraints or support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Volume of moving object

If the bandage is supplied rolled together into a roll, then the bandage can be stored in a compact form, but the central part is difficult to use due to curved shape

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidease of use
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bandage is divided into multiple folded sections that are stacked one on top of another. When a user needs to use the bandage, they can easily access and unfold the required section from the stack, eliminating the difficulty of accessing the central part of a rolled bandage while maintaining compact storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Volume of moving object

If the bandage is supplied rolled together into a roll, then the bandage can be stored in a compact form, but time is wasted in rolling back unwound parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidtime for rolling back
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bandage is divided into multiple folded sections that are stacked one on top of another. When a user unwinds a section for use, they can simply fold it back and place it on top of the remaining stack, eliminating the time-consuming process of rolling back unwound parts while maintaining compact storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2109431B1Elongated strip-like film bandage
Publication Date: 2013.01.23 MOLNLYCKE HEALTH CARE AB
  • EP2109431B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2109431B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an elongated, strip-likefilm bandage, comprising a plastics film (1), which on its one side is coated with askin- friendly adhesive (2), a protective layer (3) detachably fixedto the adhesive coating, and a stiffening layer (4), which is detachably fixedto the plastics film on the opposite side to the adhesive coating. According to the invention, the bandage is bellows-foldedinto a stack such thatthe bandage is divided into a number of parts(6-15)stacked one on top of the other, and three such parts of the bandage, which are mutually adjacent, are connected to one another on two opposite sides of the stack.