Luggage Active Anchoring Mechanism for Secure Terminal Nesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for preventing luggage theft, such as padlocks and attaching luggage to vehicle structures, are either ineffective or pose liability issues, and travelers often cannot store luggage near their seats due to occupied compartments.

Innovation Solution

A luggage system with internal anti-theft mechanisms, including a second fixing member with active anchoring means that cooperate with passive blocking means on a terminal, allowing travelers to securely anchor their luggage without relying on external infrastructure, featuring a control actuator for remote operation and a design that prevents injury or damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal sling is used to attach luggage to the vehicle structure, then luggage theft is prevented, but liability and maintenance responsibility fall on the transport company

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluggage theft preventionVSAvoidliability and maintenance structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing member is integrated into the luggage itself, making the luggage self-sufficient for securing to the terminal. The traveler owns and maintains the fixing member with its active anchoring means, eliminating the transport company's liability and maintenance obligations. The system requires no external infrastructure beyond the passive terminal blocking means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the anchoring member is exposed on the luggage exterior, then anchoring function is available, but injury or damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchoring accessibilityVSAvoidinjury or damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring member is nested within a housing that defines a nesting cavity. When not in use, the anchoring member retracts into the cavity, preventing it from protruding and causing injury or damage. When anchoring is required, the member can be deployed from the housing to engage with the terminal blocking means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If the second fixing member is located on the upper face of the luggage, then access is convenient, but nesting and stability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing member accessVSAvoidluggage nesting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing the second fixing member on the upper face of the luggage for convenience, it is inverted and positioned on the lower face. This allows the anchoring member to extend downward for securing the luggage to the terminal while maintaining a flat upper surface for stable nesting and stacking of multiple luggage items.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

Provides a reliable and user-controlled anti-theft solution that shifts responsibility to the traveler, ensuring secure luggage storage without damaging equipment or incurring liability for maintenance, and allows for stable and easy nesting of luggage.

Implementation Method 1

the anchoring means are configured to produce a magnetic anchoring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic anchoring: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3272617B1Piece of luggage and assembly of a piece of luggage and a fastening terminal
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 SNCF MOBILITES
  • EP3272617B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3272617B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3272617B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

A bag (B) comprising at least one storage space, an opening/closing mechanism allowing access to said storage space and a fastening element (20), referred to as the second fastening element, adapted to cooperate with a fastening element, referred to as the first fastening element, of a fastening post, the second fastening element (20) comprising active anchoring means (4) adapted to cooperate with passive locking means of the first fastening element of the fastening post.