Drip bag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drip bags with oblique folding lines are prone to breakage when hooked on a cup, leading to distorted opening shapes and difficulty in pouring hot water due to concentrated force on broken areas, which reduces the stability and ease of opening.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates thin plate-like members with oblique folding lines that twist and enhance the rigidity of the upper bonded portions, maintaining a regular hexagonal opening shape regardless of cup diameter, and includes unsealing protrusions for easy extraction, reducing the risk of breakage and increasing the opening area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the top ends of the oblique folding lines are located as close to the top sides of the upper bonded portions as possible to increase opening area, then the opening area is increased, but the upper bonded portions are prone to breakage due to concentrated force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric design elements including unsealing protrusions positioned at specific locations on the upper bonded portions, and oblique folding lines with specific angles that create asymmetric force distribution. This asymmetric structure prevents concentrated force at the top ends while maintaining large opening area, resolving the contradiction between opening area and breakage resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The unsealing protrusions are pre-formed on the upper bonded portions to create predetermined stress relief zones. Before the bag is hung and force is applied, these protrusions are already in place to prevent breakage, allowing the top ends to be positioned close to the top sides for maximum opening area without compromising reliability
2Area of stationary object
If the top ends of the oblique folding lines are located as close to the top sides of the upper bonded portions as possible, then the opening area is increased, but the opening shape becomes distorted when hooked on a cup
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric positioning of unsealing protrusions and the specific angular configuration of oblique folding lines create a stable geometric structure that maintains the regular hexagonal opening shape even when the top ends are close to the top sides. The asymmetric design distributes structural stress evenly, preventing distortion while maximizing opening area
3Ease of operation
If the number of ties between perforations is reduced to make oblique folding lines easily bendable, then the ease of opening is improved, but the manufacturing precision becomes difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the parameters of the perforation structure by controlling the number of ties, the length of ties relative to cut length, and the angular orientation of oblique folding lines. These parameter changes create a balance where the structure remains easily bendable for opening while maintaining sufficient manufacturing precision through defined geometric constraints
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
The solution provides a stable and increased opening area with a regular hexagonal shape, facilitating easy extraction and pouring, while minimizing the risk of breakage and maintaining the opening shape across various cup diameters.
Implementation Method 1
pulling the hooking portions on the front and back of the bag main body in opposite directions twists the upper bonded portions about the oblique folding lines
Data Source
AI summary
A drip bag includes a bag main body made of a water permeable filter sheet and thin plate-like members disposed on two opposed outer surfaces of the bag main body. In the drip bag, on each of the two opposed outer surfaces of the bag main body, the thin plate-like member includes an upper bonded portion fixed to the bag main body along a top side of the bag main body, a central portion fixed to the bag main body on a bottom-side side of the bag main body relative to the upper bonded portion, and a hooking portion continuous with the central portion and disposed to be capable of being pulled out from the bag main body. The upper bonded portion has an oblique folding line obliquely intersecting a width centerline of the upper bonded portion.