Foldable Bag Hanger With Soft Connectors for Quiet Secure Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional travel organizers face limitations such as rigid attachment components, brittle plastic, noisy exposure, custom receiver requirements, weight capacity issues, and difficulty in maintaining grocery-style bags in an open state, making them less versatile and practical for diverse travel needs.
Innovation Solution
A portable bag hanging apparatus featuring soft, crushable, and collapsible connectors and a catch end, allowing secure attachment to various objects with an interference fit or by wedging, and maintaining quiet operation due to its soft material composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid attachment components and brittle plastic are used in conventional travel organizers, then structural strength is improved, but noise is generated when exposed portions come into contact with other objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible fabric connectors instead of rigid plastic components. The fabric material provides sufficient flexibility to eliminate noise from contact with other objects while maintaining the structural integrity needed for attachment functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid plastic to soft fabric, fundamentally altering the physical properties of the attachment components. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by providing a material that is both structurally adequate and noise-free during operation.
2Reliability
If custom receiver requirements are imposed, then attachment reliability is improved, but device complexity and versatility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric connectors are designed to attach to multiple types of surfaces including headrests, seat backs, and overhead bins without requiring custom receivers. This universal attachment capability maintains reliability across different mounting locations while eliminating the need for specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system is segmented into independent fabric connectors that can function autonomously on various surfaces. Each connector operates as a separate unit that adapts to different mounting locations, eliminating the need for integrated custom receiver systems.
3Strength
If rigid structures are used, then weight capacity is improved, but ease of storage and portability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric connectors transition from a rigid, fixed structure to a dynamic, flexible system. The fabric material can bend and conform during use to support weight, then collapse into a compact form for storage, providing both strength and portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of flexible fabric instead of rigid structures allows the attachment apparatus to maintain structural integrity when deployed while collapsing to a minimal profile for storage, resolving the contradiction between weight capacity and portability.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable bag hanging apparatus may easily and securely attach to a wider variety of objects and enables more diverse use cases. The bag hanging apparatus includes a catch end and attachment end connected by first and second connectors made of soft, crushable, and collapsible material. The connectors may be secured between two objects with an interference fit while the catch end provides additional retention. Alternatively, the connectors may be wedged between two objects with something less than an interference fit, relying instead on the catch end to secure it in place. All exposed portions of the portable bag hanging apparatus are composed of soft material that is quiet when it comes into contact with other objects. In addition, the portable bag hanging apparatus is small, foldable, and virtually indestructible such that it may be easily stored and transported without risk of damaging it during travel.