Polypropylene Ribbon-Woven Refuse Bag for Heavy Sharp Debris
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disposable refuse bags made of 3-mil polyethylene films are inadequate for containing heavy refuse with sharp edges, as they tend to rupture, tear, or puncture, limiting their weight capacity and usability on construction sites, and traditional rubberized barrels are expensive, bulky, and prone to theft.
Innovation Solution
A polypropylene ribbon-woven bag with a high-strength woven structure that prevents tearing and piercing, capable of holding over 125 pounds of refuse, made by extruding polypropylene pellets into flat ribbons, weaving them into a cylindrical shape, and laminating with polypropylene film for added strength and liquid-tightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If 3-mil polyethylene film bags are used, then the bags are lightweight and inexpensive, but they rupture, tear, or puncture when containing heavy refuse with sharp edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining polypropylene ribbon weaving with polyethylene film laminating. The ribbon-woven polypropylene provides tear and cut resistance through its woven construction, while the laminated polyethylene film provides puncture resistance and liquid tightness. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by achieving high strength without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin film laminating of polyethylene over the ribbon-woven structure to create a flexible barrier layer that prevents punctures and provides liquid tightness. This thin film approach adds protective functionality without significantly increasing the overall bulk or complexity of the bag structure.
2Strength
If rubberized barrels are used, then the barrels are strong and can contain heavy refuse, but they are expensive, bulky, heavy, and subject to theft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a disposable bag structure that replaces expensive, reusable rubberized barrels. The bag is designed to be used once and then discarded, eliminating the need for heavy, theft-prone barrels that must be stored and managed. The lightweight ribbon-woven construction achieves sufficient strength for the application while being much lighter than rubber barrels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters from heavy rubber to lightweight polypropylene ribbon weaving, achieving the necessary weight-bearing capacity through the woven structure's mechanical properties rather than material density. This parameter change reduces weight while maintaining strength.
3Productivity
If polyethylene continuous film bags are used, then the bags are inexpensive and lightweight, but they fail due to stretching and rupture under heavy loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines polypropylene ribbon weaving with polyethylene film laminating to create a composite structure that achieves both high weight capacity and reliability. The ribbon-woven polypropylene provides structural strength and tear resistance, while the laminated polyethylene film provides puncture resistance and prevents liquid leakage, together enabling the bag to hold heavy loads without failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The laminated polyethylene film acts as a flexible protective shell that prevents punctures and maintains bag integrity under load. This thin film layer provides reliability by preventing the types of failures that occur in continuous film bags, while adding minimal weight and bulk.
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
The polypropylene ribbon-woven bag provides exceptional tear resistance, cut resistance, and weight-bearing capacity, allowing safe transport of heavy refuse without rupture, while being lightweight and disposable, reducing storage needs and costs.
Implementation Method 1
made by melting polypropylene pellets, extruding a web that is relatively flat
Implementation Method 2
laminating a polypropylene film to the outer surfaces of the ribbon-woven bag. The polypropylene film is heat sealed to the web in a laminating process involving placing sheets about the exterior of the bag and laminating them to the outer surfaces of the bag through a heat/temperature cycle
Data Source
AI summary
An ultra-strong tear resistant, cut resistant, puncture resistant bag having a high shear strength or modulus is provided by weaving ribbons of flat polypropylene sheet into a bag. The bag is formed by weaving a cylindrically shaped object, cutting the object transversely and sealing up one end to form the bag. The physical properties of the ribbon-woven bag easily accommodate holding refuse including bricks, wood with nails, glass and other refuse in a lightweight disposable bag. In an alternative embodiment, the ribbon-woven bag is overlain with sheets laminated to the exterior of the bag to provide a fluid-tight container.