Circular-Knit Paper Handle Bag with Reinforcement Inserts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional retail shopping bags made from solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paper with high post-consumer content are prone to tearing due to their weakness, limiting the percentage of post-consumer content that can be used, and typically have stiff, inflexible handles that interfere with objects and structures.

Innovation Solution

A paper bag design featuring a bag container made from at least 60% post-consumer SBS paper with reinforcement inserts and a handle formed from knitted paper fibers in an 8-stitch circular-knit pattern, which is flexible and droops below the bag's top edge, minimizing interference and enhancing structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the percentage of post-consumer content in SBS paper is increased, then environmental impact is reduced, but the paper becomes weaker and more prone to tearing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidpaper strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adding reinforcement inserts specifically at critical stress points (folds and handles) rather than uniformly strengthening the entire bag. This allows the use of high post-consumer content paper in non-critical areas while providing targeted strength enhancement where needed, resolving the contradiction between environmental sustainability and overall strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by combining high post-consumer content SBS paper with separate reinforcement elements (inserts made of stronger material). This composite approach allows the main bag material to maintain its eco-friendly high recycled content while the reinforcement components provide the necessary strength to compensate for the paper's inherent weakness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional paper handles are used, then manufacturing is simple, but the handles are stiff and interfere with objects and structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandle manufacturingVSAvoidhandle flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional stiff paper handle with a flexible cord or thin film handle that can bend and adapt to surrounding objects. This flexible handle material allows the bag to be manufactured relatively simply while eliminating the interference problem caused by rigid handles, as the flexible material can conform to and pass through tight spaces without obstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Strength

If reinforcement inserts are added to strengthen folds, then paper strength is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefold strengthVSAvoidbag structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the reinforcement function into separate, discrete inserts that are placed only at specific critical locations (folds and handles) rather than incorporating reinforcement throughout the entire bag structure. This segmented approach provides necessary strength enhancement at key points while keeping the overall bag structure simple and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10259616B2White paper bag formed of post-consumer content with circular-knit paper fiber yarn handle

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 APPLE INC

AI summary

A paper bag is disclosed. The paper bag may include a bag container formed of white solid bleached sulfate paper with at least 60% post-consumer content.