Foldable Carrying Handles for Compact Bag Stacking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bag designs with carrying handles protruding outside when stacked result in inefficient packing and increased material waste, making it difficult to form compact stacks and increasing production inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

The carrying handles are designed to fold completely within the bag's filling space in the rest position, with a fold line inside the filling space, allowing for a flat, material-efficient bag that reduces waste and enhances stacking compactness, and are attached internally to the front and rear walls for increased carrying comfort and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If carrying handles are attached to the outside of the bag, then carrying comfort is improved, but stacking compactness deteriorates due to thick material buildup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrying comfortVSAvoidstacking volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The carrying handle is nested within the bag's filling space when not in use. The handle is positioned inside the bag boundaries and can be folded or collapsed to fit within the bag's internal volume, allowing multiple bags to stack compactly without external handle protrusions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The carrying handle is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to transition between an extended position for carrying and a retracted/folded position for compact stacking. The handle can be folded back along fold lines to lie flat within the bag's filling space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If carrying handles protrude beyond the bag walls, then carrying functionality is improved, but manufacturing efficiency deteriorates due to avoidable waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrying functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The carrying handle is segmented into multiple parts connected by fold lines, allowing it to be divided into sections that can be folded back. This segmentation enables the handle to be stored within the bag's filling space while maintaining full functionality when extended.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The carrying handle utilizes the third dimension (depth) by folding back into the bag's filling space. Instead of protruding outward in one direction, the handle is designed to collapse inward along the bag's depth dimension, eliminating material waste while preserving carrying capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of moving object

If carrying handles are folded back, then stacking compactness is improved, but handle damage risk increases during transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestacking compactnessVSAvoidhandle durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The carrying handle is reinforced with additional material layers or structural strengthening at critical stress points. This pre-reinforcement protects the handle from damage during the folding and stacking process, ensuring durability even when the handle is in its vulnerable folded state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Ease of manufacture

If carrying handles are attached externally, then attachment simplicity is improved, but material usage increases due to thicker material buildup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment simplicityVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The carrying handle is merged with the bag's wall structure, with the handle and bag wall formed from the same material web. The handle is integrated into the bag's construction process, eliminating the need for separate attachment materials and reducing overall material usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3003892B1Bags and method for making such bags
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 WINDMOELLER & HOELSCHER GMBH
  • EP3003892B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3003892B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3003892B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a bag (10) comprising a front wall (11) and a back wall (12) arranged parallel to the front wall (11), a bottom (13) that can be folded into the plane of the walls (11, 12), such that a filling chamber (14) results that is open on one side, and a pair of carrying handles (31) that is attached on the front wall (11) and the back wall (12). According to the invention, the pair of carrying handles (31) comprises a folding line (15) in the filling space (14), such that the pair of carrying handles (31) can be brought into a usage position (1) and in a rest position (2), wherein in the rest position (2) the pair of carrying handles (31) is entirely folded back inside the filling chamber (14) and in the usage position (1) the pair of carrying handles (31) protrudes at least in certain areas from the filling space (14).