Convenience Tote with Segmented Compartments for Item Separation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Professional women face challenges in managing various daily items, including inclement weather and the need for both comfortable and dressy shoes, while maintaining the organization and protection of personal and electronic devices during travel.

Innovation Solution

A convenience tote with water-resistant pouches for an umbrella and spare shoes, along with internal compartments for a laptop, phone, and wallet, ensuring separation from other items to prevent contamination and providing secure storage with accessible external zipper openings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple items are carried in a single compartment, then the carrying capacity is improved, but the organization and protection of items deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrying capacityVSAvoidorganization

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tote bag is divided into multiple compartments including a main compartment, a shoe compartment with zipper closure, and multiple pockets (front pocket, back pocket, side pockets). This segmentation allows different items to be stored in separate organized sections while maintaining overall carrying capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If shoes are stored in the main compartment, then the carrying capacity is improved, but the contamination of other items deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrying capacityVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A separate shoe compartment is created with its own zipper closure, physically isolating shoes from other items in the main compartment. This prevents soil and moisture from shoes from contaminating other belongings while still allowing the shoes to be carried.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The zipper closure acts as an intermediary barrier between the shoe compartment and the main compartment, controlling the interface between these two spaces and preventing harmful factors (soil, moisture) from passing through while allowing intentional access when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If external access pockets are added, then the accessibility of items is improved, but the device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidstructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tote bag features multiple externally accessible pockets (front pocket, back pocket, side pockets) that are segmented from the main compartment. Each pocket can be accessed independently through its own opening, allowing quick retrieval of frequently needed items without disturbing the main compartment contents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11786020B1Convenience tote

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 MATA ELY-LEEN

AI summary

A convenience tote is provided with a plurality of laterally accessible pouches which can remotely retain an umbrella and spare pair of shoes secluded from the contents of the main compartment. Additional compartments can secure a laptop computer, a cell phone, a wallet, and the like.