Folding Suitcase With Elastic Fold-Resisting Component
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suitcases lack efficient folding mechanisms that allow for easy storage and retrieval, often requiring manual effort and losing structural integrity over time.
Innovation Solution
A folding suitcase design featuring a peripheral side wall component with bendable parts and an elastic fold-resisting component, which includes a combined part and extension parts connected via hooks and loops, allowing for selective support and easy folding and unfolding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional suitcases are designed without fold-resisting components, then the suitcase can be easily folded for storage, but the suitcase loses structural integrity and requires manual effort to maintain shape
Solution Approach 1:
The fold-resisting component is designed to automatically engage with the bending part when the suitcase is in its unfolded state, providing self-supporting structural integrity without requiring manual intervention. The elastic property of the component allows it to self-regulate between folded and unfolded states
Solution Approach 2:
The fold-resisting component transitions between engaged and disengaged states dynamically based on the suitcase configuration. When the suitcase is unfolded, the component engages to provide rigidity; when folded, it disengages to allow compact storage, creating a dynamic structural system
2Strength
If the peripheral side wall component is made rigid to maintain shape, then structural integrity is improved, but the ability to fold for compact storage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral side wall component is divided into multiple bending parts that can independently fold relative to each other. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain rigidity when unfolded while enabling compact folding for storage by dividing the rigid structure into foldable segments
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral side wall component transitions between rigid and flexible states based on operational needs. The bending parts provide dynamic adaptability, allowing the structure to be rigid during use for shape maintenance and flexible during storage for compact folding
3Strength
If manual effort is applied to maintain suitcase structure, then structural integrity is achieved, but ease of operation and reduction of manual effort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fold-resisting component provides automatic structural support through its elastic property, eliminating the need for manual intervention to maintain suitcase shape. The component self-activates when the suitcase is unfolded and self-deactivates when folded, providing continuous structural support without user effort
Solution Approach 2:
The function of providing structural support is extracted from manual user action and transferred to the automatic fold-resisting component. This extraction eliminates the need for continuous manual effort while maintaining structural integrity throughout the suitcase's operational life
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 easy and convenient folding and unfolding of the suitcase, maintaining structural integrity and reducing manual effort, with the elastic component providing support to keep the suitcase unfolded and easily restorable.
Implementation Method 1
The fold-resisting component is elastic and includes a combined part and an extension part which are connected to each other
Data Source
AI summary
A folding suitcase includes a back case component, a front lid component, a peripheral side wall component, and a fold-resisting component. An accommodating space formed by the peripheral side wall component, the back case component and the front lid component is for being covered selectively. The peripheral side wall component has multiple first sidewall parts, multiple second sidewall parts and multiple bending parts connected to the multiple sidewall parts and the multiple second sidewall parts. The multiple bending parts are bendable to allow the multiple first sidewall parts and the multiple second sidewall parts to be folded oppositely or erected on the back case component. The fold-resisting component is elastic and includes a combined part and an extension part. The combined part is disposed at the multiple first sidewall parts. The extension part is detachably disposed at the multiple bending parts for selectively supporting the peripheral side wall component.