Bicycle Bag Attachment Rail for Shopping Bags

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shopping bags are not suitable for suspension on bicycle racks due to inadequate durability and center of gravity alignment, leading to swinging and potential entanglement with the wheel, while durable bicycle bags are expensive and not disposable.

Innovation Solution

A bicycle bag with a bag attachment rail featuring elongated body portions and suspension hooks attached to a soft pliable sheet material shopping bag, allowing easy fixation and adjustment to prevent entanglement, and a detachable attachment system for reuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If shopping bags are used for bicycle transportation, then cost is reduced and disposability is improved, but durability is insufficient and entanglement with wheels occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a shopping bag with a bicycle attachment rail system, merging the disposable bag with a durable attachment mechanism. The attachment rail with suspension hooks integrates the bag securely to the bicycle rack, providing both the low cost of disposable bags and the reliability of a proper attachment system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment rail acts as an intermediary between the shopping bag and the bicycle rack. This mediator component provides the necessary durability and secure connection, while the shopping bag itself remains simple and disposable. The rail system with its elongated body and suspension hooks mediates the connection, preventing direct attachment issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If shopping bag handles are used for suspension, then simplicity is maintained, but center of gravity alignment is poor causing swinging and entanglement

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesimplicityVSAvoidcenter of gravity alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the suspension function from the shopping bag handles themselves and transfers it to the attachment rail system. The handles remain simple for carrying, while the dedicated attachment rail with suspension hooks provides the proper suspension point that aligns with the bicycle rack, eliminating swinging and entanglement issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment rail system copies the essential suspension function needed for bicycle attachment, but implements it through a separate, optimized structure rather than relying on the original bag handles. The suspension hooks replicate the hanging function in a way that is specifically designed for bicycle rack compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If durable bicycle bags are used, then durability and balance are improved, but cost increases and reusability is required

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bicycle bag system into two parts: a durable attachment rail that remains with the bicycle, and a disposable shopping bag that can be replaced. This segmentation allows the expensive durable components to be reused while the simple bags can be disposed of after single use, combining the benefits of both approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment rail system is designed to be recovered and reused with multiple different shopping bags. The durable rail remains with the bicycle while the shopping bags can be discarded after use. This allows recovery of the expensive components while discarding the simple, replaceable bags.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Stability of the object's composition

If fixed attachment methods are used, then stability is improved, but attachment and removal time increases and tools may be required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidattachment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system transitions from static fixed attachment to dynamic adjustable attachment. The suspension hooks can be positioned at different locations on the elongated body of the rail, allowing the attachment point to be adjusted for optimal balance and stability while maintaining quick attachment and removal capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows changing the attachment parameters by adjusting the position of suspension hooks along the elongated body. This parameter adjustment enables optimization of both stability and attachment speed, providing configurable attachment points that can be adapted to different bag and rack configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2991892B1A bicycle bag
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 GULMANN & LUND APS
  • EP2991892B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2991892B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP2991892B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

The invention provides a bicycle bag comprising a shopping bag and a bag attachment rail for suspension of the bicycle bag on a bicycle. The bag attachment rail comprises an elongated body portion forming a front face, an opposite rear face, an upper edge and a lower edge extending between first and second end portions, and bicycle attachment means forming at least one suspension hook. The shopping bag forms space for carrying shopping items between a front layer and a rear layer of a soft pliable sheet material. To provide easy attachment e.g. on a rack of a bicycle and for providing good balance, the bag attachment rail is attached to the front layer of the shopping bag.