Storage Bag Shape-Retaining Strips for Upright Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage bags face difficulties in maintaining the opening size equal to the bottom end during filling operations, as the opening often collapses or becomes misshapen, making it hard to manage the flow of materials into the bag.
Innovation Solution
A storage bag design featuring interlocking fastener strips with shape-retaining strips that maintain the opening size equal to the bottom end, allowing the bag to be configured between flat and expanded states, ensuring the opening remains open and symmetrical with the bag's bottom end.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the opening of the storage bag is made large to facilitate material insertion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural stability deteriorates causing the opening to collapse or become misshapen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible plastic materials for the bag body while incorporating rigid or semi-rigid stay tapes that can be bent and shaped. These stay tapes maintain the opening's shape through their inherent rigidity while allowing the bag to remain flexible and collapsible for storage. The stay tapes are positioned at the opening to provide structural support without preventing the bag from being compressed when empty.
2Stability of the object's composition
If shape-retaining structures are added to maintain the opening shape, then the shape stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stay tapes are applied locally only at the opening area where shape retention is needed, rather than throughout the entire bag structure. This localized approach provides the necessary structural support at the critical opening region while keeping the rest of the bag simple and flexible. The stay tapes are positioned specifically at the perimeter of the opening to maintain its shape without adding unnecessary complexity to the overall bag design.
3Productivity
If the opening size is maintained equal to the bottom end size, then the productivity is improved by enabling upright positioning, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stay tapes are pre-formed with the desired curvature and shape before being attached to the bag. This preliminary shaping allows the opening to automatically assume the correct geometry when the stay tapes are applied, reducing the need for complex post-manufacturing adjustments. The stay tapes are designed with the final desired opening shape built-in, so when attached to the bag perimeter, they automatically create the intended opening dimensions and configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage bag has first and second side surfaces, and a sealable and an unsealable opening. A bottom end of the bag is movable between a flat configuration with the first and second side surfaces positioned adjacent to each other, and an expanded configuration with the first and second side surfaces being spaced from each other. Shape retaining strips are provided adjacent to the opening that can maintain the shape of the opening. The shape retaining strips are capable of maintaining the opening of the bag such that a distance between the first and second side surfaces at the top end of the bag is about equal to the distance between the first and second side surfaces at the bottom end of the bag.