Garbage Bag Offset Edge Design for Easy Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Garbage bags formed from two plies of plastic laminar material are difficult to open due to matching edges that make it hard to visually distinguish the opening and separate the sheets.

Innovation Solution

The garbage bag design features non-matching edges at the opening, with one edge shifted relative to the other by a few millimeters, and optional differences in color or gloss between the inner and outer faces to facilitate opening, along with a method involving longitudinal cuts during extrusion or later production steps to create this offset.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the edges of the two sheets are arranged to match up, then the bag structure is simple and continuous, but it becomes difficult to visually distinguish the opening and separate the sheets to open the bag

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of openingVSAvoidedge arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally creating a misalignment between the edges of the front and rear sheets at the opening. Specifically, one edge is shifted relative to the other by a predetermined distance (e.g., 1-100mm), creating a visible offset that distinguishes the opening location and facilitates easy separation of the sheets for opening the bag.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of operation

If the edges are shifted to make opening easier, then visual distinction and ease of opening improve, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of openingVSAvoidedge positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining and pre-establishing the offset distance between edges during the manufacturing process. The shift distance is predetermined (e.g., 1-100mm) and built into the bag construction, so that when the bag is used, the edges are already positioned to facilitate easy opening without requiring precise real-time adjustment during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3778432B1Garbage bag with an easy-to-open opening and method of manufacturing same
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 PLASBEL PLASTICOS
  • EP3778432B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3778432B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3778432B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a bag with an easy-to-open opening and method of manufacturing same, formed from two sheets, a front sheet (2) and a rear sheet (3), attached by means of welds (4) and a fold (5), wherein the respective edges (2a, 3a) of both sheets (2, 3) at its opening (6) are located in non-matching positions and are parallel to and separated from one another by several millimeters. The manufacture of said bag comprises a step in which blades (7) make a first longitudinal cut (L1) in the material tube-shaped so as to form one or two semi-tubes, and a step in which at least an additional longitudinal cut (L2) is made forming the edge (2a) of the opening of one of the sheets (2) parallel to and at a distance of a few millimeters from the edge (3a) of the other sheet (3).