Plastic Bag Wavetop Design for Handle Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plastic carry bags lack design features that enhance handle strength, facilitate easy loading, and effectively displace stress, leading to inefficiencies in functionality and manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

A plastic bag design with a flattened, wider top and proportionally engineered shoulders that allow for easier folding and stress displacement, incorporating an algorithm to optimize handle strength and bag structure for improved usability and manufacturing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a sinusoidal bag top design is used, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but handle strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidhandle strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a reinforced strip in the central film region where the wavetop shape is formed. This localized reinforcement provides additional strength specifically at the handle area without altering the overall sinusoidal bag top design or manufacturing process, thus maintaining manufacturing efficiency while improving handle strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If a flattened, wider top design is used, then handle strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the flattened, wider top design with the existing sinusoidal wavetop configuration. The flattened top is integrated into the sinusoidal shape, creating a hybrid design that maintains compatibility with high-speed manufacturing processes while providing the structural benefits of a flattened top for improved handle strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If proportionally engineered shoulders are added, then ease of loading is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of loadingVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates proportionally engineered shoulders that are pre-formed during the manufacturing process. These shoulders are designed to automatically facilitate the folding of the upper portion and promote the bag's ability to stand up, eliminating the need for additional manual operations or complex assembly steps after manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If stress displacement features are incorporated, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress displacementVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetry in the bag design by positioning stress displacement features at specific locations that are not symmetrically opposite. The bottom curved location has a different curvature configuration than the top center location, creating asymmetric stress distribution patterns that effectively displace stress while maintaining compatibility with standard manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS11267618B1Algorithmic construction of a plastic bag
Publication Date: 2022.03.08 DEMATTEIS ROBERT
  • US11267618B1 patent drawing
  • US11267618B1 patent drawing
  • US11267618B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A bag with improved carry handle strength and stand-up ability and method of constructing same using an algorithm that takes into account one or more bag traits resulting in an upper bag portion configuration constructed to carry a predetermined volume of contents within the bag body.