Elastic Mesh Bag for Compact Storage and 500x Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current reusable shopping bags are bulky, impractical for carrying when empty, and pose health risks due to bacterial contamination, as they are often made of materials that are difficult to clean and can harbor bacteria, leading to cross-contamination of food products.
Innovation Solution
A stretchable reusable bag made from nylon-elastane based elastic mesh that can compact to a small size for storage and expand to accommodate items, featuring a reinforced waistband and handles, and can be easily cleaned, using a method that repurposes pantyhose material to create a durable, lightweight, and inexpensive bag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If reusable bags are made of fixed-size materials (bioplastic, raffia, cardboard, fabric), then they provide adequate volume for transporting groceries, but they become bulky and impractical to carry when empty
Solution Approach 1:
The bag transitions from a static fixed-size structure to a dynamic structure that adapts its volume. The elastic mesh material allows the bag to expand when carrying items and contract to a compact size when empty, enabling easy portability. The bag dynamically adjusts between a compact stored state and an expanded carrying state based on usage needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag's volume parameter is made variable rather than fixed. The elastic mesh material enables the bag to change its volume parameter from a compact size suitable for carrying to an expanded size suitable for transporting groceries, and back again. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between adequate carrying volume and portability when empty.
2Strength
If reusable bags are made of materials difficult to clean, then they maintain structural integrity, but they harbor bacteria and cause cross-contamination of food products
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic mesh material has a porous structure that allows cleaning agents to penetrate through the material and reach all surfaces, including internal structures. This porosity enables thorough cleaning and disinfection, preventing bacterial harboring while maintaining the structural integrity of the bag through the use of durable mesh construction.
3Ease of operation
If disposable plastic bags are used, then convenience and ease of use are improved, but environmental pollution and waste accumulation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a disposable culture (discard after single use) to a reusable culture (recover and reuse multiple times). The elastic mesh bag is designed for repeated use, washing, and long-term durability, eliminating the need for continuous disposal and replacement of bags, thereby reducing environmental pollution and waste accumulation while maintaining convenience.
4Volume of moving object
If reusable bags are made larger to accommodate more items, then carrying capacity is improved, but they become even more bulky and difficult to store when empty
Solution Approach 1:
The bag's volume is made dynamic rather than statically large. The elastic mesh material allows the bag to achieve a large expanded volume when carrying items for high carrying capacity, then contract to a compact small volume when empty for easy storage. This dynamic volume adjustment resolves the contradiction between large carrying capacity and small storage space requirements.
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 bag provides a convenient, hygienic, and environmentally friendly solution for carrying items, being lightweight, durable, and easy to clean, with a 500-fold volume expansion capability, addressing the issues of bulkiness and bacterial contamination while being cost-effective and simple to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
A lightweight Stretchable Reusable bag, attainable in a cost-efficient manner thanks to the incorporation of a nylon-elastane based elastic mesh
Data Source
AI summary
A Stretchable Reusable bag such as for shopping or groceries that is small enough to be kept inside a pocket when in its Compacted Mode and easily and quickly decompressed into an Empty Mode and then expandable to a large In-Use Mode in which it is capable of adapting to the shape and volume of Regular-Sized Items until acquiring a total volume of 500 times the volume of the bag in its Compacted Mode through Smooth Transitions, is achieved by sewing one or more handles to an elastic waistband attached to a rectangular or squared Main Body primarily made of a Nylon-elastane fiber material, preferably in its 85% nylon-15% elastane configuration and its micro-fishnet mesh variant. A method is disclosed for the formation of these bags out of the repurposing of a micro-fishnet pantyhose.