Garbage Bag Opener With Insertable Arms And Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing garbage bag holder devices do not effectively keep the neck of a garbage bag open for easy filling, as they typically rely on external gripping mechanisms rather than inserting arms into the bag's opening.
Innovation Solution
A pair of hingedly coupled arms that can be inserted into the neck of a garbage bag, with a latch system to maintain the arms in a deployed position for holding the bag open, allowing for easy filling without manual assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If external gripping mechanisms are used to hold the trash bag open, then the device can be attached to the outside of the bag, but the neck of the bag cannot be effectively kept open for easy filling
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple arms (first arm and second arm) that can be independently positioned and locked. Each arm has its own latch mechanism that can secure the arm in a deployed position, allowing the arms to work together to hold the bag neck open effectively while maintaining ease of operation through individual arm control.
Solution Approach 2:
The arms are designed to be insertable into the band opening of the garbage bag neck, with the latch mechanisms nested within the arm structure itself. The pins are attached to the arms and the latches rotate about these pins, creating a compact nested arrangement that allows the device to be inserted into the bag opening and then deployed to hold it open.
2Reliability
If a latch system is added to retain the arms in deployed position, then the arms can securely hold the bag open, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanisms are designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the position of the arms. When the arms are in the deployed position, the latches automatically lock into place to secure the arms. When the arms need to be repositioned, the latches automatically disengage. This self-servicing behavior provides reliable holding without requiring complex control systems or multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanisms use simple, straightforward components (latches that rotate about pins and engage with pins on other arms) that are easy to manufacture and replace if needed. The design prioritizes simplicity and reliability over complexity, using basic mechanical elements that can be easily produced and are unlikely to fail.
3Reliability
If the arms are made insertable into the band opening, then the device can directly hold the neck open, but the arms must be positionable in both stored and deployed positions
Solution Approach 1:
The arms are designed to be movable between a stored position (where they can be inserted into the band opening) and a deployed position (where they extend to hold the bag neck open). The hingedly coupled connection allows the arms to dynamically transition between these positions, and the latch mechanisms provide stable positioning in both states, making the device easy to operate while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A garbage bag opener device includes a pair of arms hingedly coupled together for inserting into a band opening in a neck of a garbage bag. The pair of arms is positionable in a deployed position to hold the garbage bag open for receiving garbage. A pair of pins is each attached to a respective one of the pair of arms and a latch is rotatably attached to a respective one of the pair of pins. The latch is positionable in a locked position to engage the other of the pair of pins when the arms are in the deployed position for retaining the pair of arms in the deployed position. The latch is positionable in an unlocked position to disengage the other of the pins to facilitate the pair of arms to be positioned in the stored position.