Foldable Arm Trash Bag Holder for Horizontal Leaf Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing trash bag holders for horizontal orientations face issues such as leaves falling out, requiring manual holding, back strain from bending, and instability during leaf raking, as they tend to move and cause rake teeth to get caught.

Innovation Solution

A trash bag holder with foldable arms that pivot to maintain the bag open in a horizontal position, incorporating a base with inclined surfaces and pads for stability, allowing the bag to be filled without manual holding and preventing rake teeth from getting caught.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a horizontally-oriented trash receptacle is used, then it is easier to fill without manual holding, but leaves tend to fall out of the vertical opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of fillingVSAvoidleaf retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The arms are designed to be movable between a storage position and an operational position. When in use, the arms extend upward to support the bag opening; when not in use, they fold down flat against the base. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different operational states while maintaining leaf retention capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The arms act as an intermediary structure between the base and the bag opening. They provide mechanical support to maintain the bag in a horizontal orientation, preventing leaves from falling out while allowing easy filling. The arms transfer the load from the bag to the base, enabling stable horizontal positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the trash receptacle is pulled up to vertical position to secure the opening, then leaves are prevented from falling out, but back and leg strain occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleaf retentionVSAvoidphysical strain

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is designed to maintain the bag in a horizontal orientation automatically through the arm structure, eliminating the need for manual intervention to hold or reposition the bag. The system serves itself by maintaining leaf retention in the horizontal position without requiring the user to bend or squat, thus preventing back and leg strain while ensuring leaves do not fall out.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If the trash receptacle is positioned horizontally on the ground, then it is stable during raking, but rake angle tips get caught between the ground and the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability during rakingVSAvoidrake tooth entanglement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into a base and separate arms. The base provides a stable foundation on the ground, while the arms are positioned to support the bag opening without interfering with the raking action. This segmentation allows the base to remain stationary and stable while the arms provide necessary support, preventing rake teeth from getting caught.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If the arms are extended to support the bag opening, then the bag remains open and stable, but the device cannot be compactly stored

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebag support stabilityVSAvoidstorage compactness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The arms can be folded down to lie flat against the base, creating a compact nested configuration for storage. This nesting capability allows the support structure to be stored in a minimal space while still providing full bag support functionality when deployed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 efficient collection of leaves without manual bag holding, reduces back strain, and maintains stability during raking by keeping the bag open and secure, allowing for easy filling and compact storage.

Implementation Method 1

a first arm (14) pivotally mounted adjacent the rear end (20) of the base (12)... a second arm (16) pivotally mounted adjacent the rear end (20) of the base (12)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

The first arm (14) is movable between a generally horizontal first position (22) and a second position (24) extending at an obtuse angle with respect to the base (12)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS9663272B1Apparatus for holding a trash bag open

Publication Date: 2017.05.30 SMITH MICHAEL RAYMOND

AI summary

An apparatus for maintaining a bag in an open configuration has a base with a forward end and a rearward end, a first arm pivotally mounted to the adjacent to the rearward end of the base, and a second arm pivotally mounted adjacent to the rearward end of the base in spaced relation to the first arm. The first arm is movable between a generally horizontal first position and a second position extending at an obtuse angle with respect to said base. The second arm is movable between a generally horizontal first position and a second position extending at an obtuse angle with respect to the base. The first and second arms are adapted to receive an open end of the bag thereon. The base has a top surface that is inclined upwardly from the forward end toward the rearward end.