Cart-Attached Bag Holder Using Elastic Tether Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Retail stores face challenges in making the shopping experience easier for customers using reusable shopping bags and technologically advanced devices, as consumers struggle to place products into bags while using a shopping cart without needing to hold the bags open, which existing solutions often complicate the process.
Innovation Solution
A bag-holding apparatus attachable to shopping carts, featuring elastic tethers and securing mechanisms that keep bags open, allowing customers to use their preferred bags and enabling hands-free shopping with technology, while ensuring compatibility with various cart types and easy storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If customers use reusable shopping bags, then environmental friendliness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because customers must manually hold bags open while shopping
Solution Approach 1:
The bag holding apparatus enables the shopping bag to hold itself open without requiring customer intervention. The apparatus automatically maintains the bag in an open state through its mechanical structure, allowing customers to simply place items in the bag without manually holding it open.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag holding apparatus acts as an intermediary device between the customer and the shopping bag. It mediates the interaction by providing mechanical support to keep the bag open, freeing the customer's hands while maintaining the bag's functionality.
2Productivity
If customers use handheld electronic devices during shopping, then shopping efficiency is improved through price checks and scanning, but the ease of operation deteriorates because hands are occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus serves itself by mechanically maintaining the bag's open state without requiring continuous customer attention or hand intervention. This self-maintaining capability allows customers to use their hands for other tasks such as operating electronic devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus separates the function of holding the bag open from the customer's hands. By dedicating a separate mechanical device to this function, the customer's hands are freed for other purposes while the bag holding function continues independently.
3Ease of operation
If special carts with integrated bag holding features are used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases and compatibility with existing carts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bag holding apparatus is designed with universal adaptability to work with multiple types of shopping carts. It can be attached to various cart configurations without requiring specialized cart features, making it compatible with both traditional and modern cart designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus serves as an intermediary attachment that bridges the gap between existing cart designs and the desired bag holding functionality. It can be mounted on various cart types without requiring modifications to the cart itself, maintaining compatibility while adding the desired feature.
4Ease of operation
If special reusable bags with unique features are used, then ease of operation may be improved, but device complexity increases and adaptability to different cart types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the bag holding function from the bag itself, placing it in a separate attachable apparatus. This separation allows the bag to remain simple and universally compatible while the apparatus provides the specialized holding functionality that can be adapted to different cart types.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus is designed to be universally compatible with both different cart types and different bag styles. It can be attached to various cart configurations and works with standard reusable bags, maintaining adaptability while providing the desired ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables customers to easily bag items without holding bags open, allowing for hands-free use of smartphones and other devices, while maintaining compatibility with existing carts and storage systems, thus enhancing the shopping experience without adding complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a tether connecting the plurality of receptacle securing mechanisms to the elongated body
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein that are useful for holding containers open. For example, in some forms a cart accessory and cart are disclosed herein with an apparatus for holding open a receptacle or container. In one form, the apparatus is an accessory including an elongated body having a cart attachment mechanism for securing the cart accessory to at least a portion of a cart, a receptacle securing mechanism connected to the elongated body via a tether, the receptacle securing mechanism being movable between a retracted position wherein the securing mechanism is positioned proximate the elongated body and an extended position wherein the securing mechanism is spaced apart from the elongated body closer to at least a portion of a receptacle to assist in holding open the receptacle when connected thereto. In another form a cart is disclosed having such a container holding apparatus.