Foldable Elastic Loop Storage Card with Pivot Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for elastic loops are disorganized and difficult to store discreetly, especially for magicians who require a compact and illusion-friendly solution.
Innovation Solution
A card-shaped container with a foldable design, including a pivotally attached separator and notched sheet for organizing and concealing elastic loops, allowing it to be sized like a credit card for easy wallet storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If elastic loops are stored in a box or purse, then they can be held, but they become bunched up and disorganized
Solution Approach 1:
The container divides the storage space into multiple compartments using dividers, with each compartment designed to hold a specific number of elastic loops. This segmentation prevents loops from becoming bunched up and disorganized by providing dedicated spaces for each loop or small groups of loops.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the container have different structural characteristics - some areas have dividers for organization, while other areas have smooth surfaces for easy access. The container body itself has varying thickness and flexibility in different regions to optimize both organization and portability.
2Quantity of substance
If a container is made large enough to hold multiple loops, then storage capacity increases, but portability and discreet storage decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed to fold into a compact, credit-card-sized form that can be nested within a wallet. When folded, the multiple compartments and dividers collapse into a thin profile, allowing the container to be carried discreetly without drawing attention, despite having capacity for multiple loops when opened.
Solution Approach 2:
The container employs foldable walls and movable dividers that can be collapsed or expanded. This dynamic structure allows the container to transition between a compact storage state for portability and an expanded state for accessing and organizing multiple loops, optimizing both capacity and portability at different times.
3Ease of operation
If the container is made foldable for compact storage, then portability improves, but the mechanism for holding loops during folding becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is designed to be held by the user's finger during the folding process, using the user's hand as part of the mechanism. This self-service approach simplifies the overall design by eliminating the need for complex mechanical locking or holding devices - the user's finger naturally maintains the separator in the correct position during folding.
Solution Approach 2:
The user's finger acts as an intermediary between the separator and the folding action. By holding the separator with the finger, the user mediates the folding process, ensuring that loops remain properly positioned while the container collapses into its compact form without requiring additional mechanical components.
Data Source
AI summary
A container for holding elastic loops is described. The container includes a foldable and substantially planar card. A foldable, substantially planar sheet is included for holding elastic loops. The sheet is formed such that it can be contained within the card. A separator is pivotally attached with the card. When an elastic loop is placed upon the sheet and the sheet is positioned upon the card, the separator covers a portion of the sheet such that it holds elastic loops against the sheet to allow the loops and sheet to be concealed within the card. For ease of storage and concealment, the card has a shape and size such that when folded, the card is of a substantially similar shape and size as a credit card for placement within a wallet.