Rolling Tote Bag with External Support Plate Retaining Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rolling tote bags suffer from lack of support at the bottom corners, which leads to sagging and potential damage, and the apertures for caster wheels introduce weaknesses and dust penetration, while current solutions are complex and costly.

Innovation Solution

A rolling tote bag with a collapsible container body and a retaining structure of releasable securing flaps that securely hold the support plate outside the inner storage volume, using hook-and-loop fasteners to ensure stability and prevent separation, and optionally a zipper for easy insertion/removal of the support plate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If apertures are provided in the bottom panel for caster wheels, then rolling support is enabled, but structural strength decreases and dust penetration occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverolling supportVSAvoidbottom panel strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom panel is segmented into multiple layers: an outer bottom panel, an intermediate support plate, and an inner bottom panel. The caster wheels are mounted on the support plate rather than passing through the outer bottom panel, thus maintaining the integrity and strength of the bottom panel while still enabling rolling support functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support plate with caster wheels is nested between the outer and inner bottom panels. The support plate is received within the container body and positioned against the inner bottom panel, creating a nested structure that provides rolling support without compromising the outer bottom panel's strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If snap fasteners are used to attach the rolling support assembly, then attachment is simple, but reliability decreases on uneven surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment simplicityVSAvoidattachment reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple attachment mechanisms are merged together: snap fasteners for simple attachment, hook-and-loop fasteners for reliable continuous engagement, and apertures with passing elements for mechanical interlocking. This combination maintains ease of manufacture while significantly improving reliability on uneven surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The design incorporates redundant attachment mechanisms that provide backup security. The hook-and-loop fasteners and aperture-based mechanical interlocking serve as pre-prepared cushioning measures to prevent detachment if the primary snap fasteners fail under stress from uneven surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Device complexity

If the rolling support assembly is inserted inside the inner storage volume, then attachment is simplified, but bottom corner support is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment complexityVSAvoidbottom corner support

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support plate extends in a third dimension (vertically) beyond the inner storage volume to provide corner support. While the support plate is inserted through the bottom panel, it protrudes outward to support the bottom corners of the container body, thus maintaining both simplified attachment and structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If apertures are made larger to accommodate bigger caster wheels, then wheel size increases, but structural weakness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecaster wheel sizeVSAvoidbottom panel strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The structure is segmented so that the support plate (a separate component) bears the load of larger caster wheels rather than the bottom panel. The apertures in the bottom panel only need to be large enough to accommodate the wheel axles, not the entire wheel assembly, thus maintaining bottom panel strength while allowing larger wheels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enhances resistance to wear and tear, prevents dust penetration, allows use of larger caster wheels, and reduces production costs by simplifying the attachment mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

using hook-and-loop fasteners to ensure stability and prevent separation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHook-and-loop fastening: Velcro

Data Source

PatentUS20240285048A1Rolling tote bag

Publication Date: 2024.08.29 CODEFINE INT SA

AI summary

A rolling tote bag including a collapsible container body made of a foldable assembly of fabric panels, including a bottom panel and side panels, that jointly define an inner storage volume when in an expanded state. The rolling tote bag further includes a rolling support assembly to provide rolling support for the collapsible container body in the expanded state, the rolling support assembly including a support plate and a plurality of caster wheels provided on an underside of the support plate. The collapsible container body further includes a retaining structure formed of one or more fabric panels, which retaining structure is provided underneath the bottom panel and is configured to securely hold the support plate outside of the inner storage volume against an underside of the bottom panel.