Tethered Pouch with Access Openings for Secure Tool Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-rise construction poses a significant risk of injury or death from dropped objects, with existing safety measures like debris nets and tool holders being inadequate, as they either allow objects to fall through or interfere with tool operation and feature access.

Innovation Solution

A tethered pouch with a shell made of durable and flexible materials, featuring access openings and viewing windows, allows secure carrying of tools or devices while enabling normal operation and feature access without removal, using a tether to prevent drops.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional pouches with zippers and hook-and-loop fasteners are used to encase the mobile phone, then the phone is securely retained, but the phone cannot be operated while inside the pouch and requires two-handed handling for insertion and removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephone retention securityVSAvoidphone accessibility and operability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch is divided into multiple access openings (first access opening, second access opening, third access opening) that provide segmented access to different features of the mobile phone. Each opening is positioned to allow access to specific components without requiring full removal of the phone from the pouch, enabling one-handed operation while maintaining secure retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch acts as an intermediary structure between the user and the mobile phone, providing controlled access points that allow interaction with the phone's features while maintaining security. The access openings serve as mediators that enable partial access without compromising the overall enclosed protective structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If debris nets with smaller hole dimensions are used to prevent objects from falling through, then protection against smaller objects is improved, but the nets still cannot prevent all dropped objects and require considerable force to withstand

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against smaller objectsVSAvoidforce withstanding capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the phone from the dangerous environment of high-rise construction by providing a secure pouch that can be worn on the person. This removes the object from the potential drop zone entirely, eliminating the need for debris nets and their associated strength requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch provides preliminary containment and security for the mobile phone before any drop can occur. By securing the phone to the person's body in advance, the system prevents the drop from happening rather than attempting to catch or block it after the fact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If toe boards are installed to protect workers below, then protection for workers immediately below is improved, but toe boards can pose trip hazards and cannot protect workers further below

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection for workers immediately belowVSAvoidtrip hazards and limited protection range

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the potential harm of dropped objects into a beneficial secure carrying system. By providing a pouch with access openings, the system allows the phone to be carried securely on the person while maintaining full operability, thus preventing drops entirely rather than attempting to mitigate their effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Ease of manufacture

If the pouch uses a single opaque material for the shell, then the structure is simple and durable, but the user cannot see the item or operate its features while inside the pouch

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicity and durabilityVSAvoidvisual and contact access to features

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch shell uses different materials in different locations: opaque durable material for the main body structure and transparent or translucent material for the access opening areas. This local differentiation allows the structure to maintain durability while providing visual access and feature operability at specific locations where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11101837B2Pouch with viewing windows and access openings

Publication Date: 2021.08.24 WEST COAST CHAIN MFG CO

AI summary

A tethered pouch adapted to carry an device, tool or equipment, has a shell with a proximal opening that leads to an interior pocket, wherein the shell is constructed of a first material and a second material where the second material may be configured as a viewing window and the shell has at least one access opening configured to receive a digit of a user's hand for contacting and operating the item, such as a mobile phone.