Expandable Pocket Divider With Laterally Extending Gap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pocket dividers often have limited storage capacity due to their fixed shape and configuration, especially when bound into components like notebooks, restricting the ability to store multiple items effectively.

Innovation Solution

A pocket device design featuring a major panel and a pocket panel with a lateral dimension greater than the major panel at specific positions, creating a laterally-extending gap that allows expansion, increasing storage capacity by enabling the pocket panels to move laterally and accommodate more content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the pocket divider is bound on various sides or bound into a component such as a notebook, then structural integrity is maintained, but storage capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidexpansion capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pocket divider is divided into a major panel and a separate pocket panel that can move independently. The pocket panel is detached from the major panel at certain boundaries, allowing it to expand and contract independently while the major panel remains stable and bound to the notebook.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pocket panel transitions from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic, movable structure. The pocket panel can laterally extend beyond the major panel boundaries and move relative to it, enabling the storage capacity to adapt to different content volumes while maintaining structural integrity through the connection at the major panel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the pocket panel has a lateral dimension greater than the major panel, then expansion capability is enhanced, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpansion capabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The structure is segmented into two distinct panels: a major panel that maintains the original bound structure and a pocket panel that extends laterally. This segmentation allows the pocket panel to achieve greater lateral dimensions for expansion without complicating the overall bound structure, as the extension is achieved through a separate, movable component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10005311B2Expandable capacity pocket device

Publication Date: 2018.06.26 ACCO BRANDS CORP

AI summary

A pocket device including a major panel and a pocket panel coupled to the major panel and defining a pocket with the major panel. The pocket panel has a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the major panel at at least one position to thereby define a laterally-extending gap therebetween, which enables expansion of the pocket.