Transformable Garment Bag for Clean and Dirty Laundry Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional garment bags are not practical for transporting both clean and dirty laundry, as disposable foil bags generate waste and higher-quality bags are not suitable for soiled laundry due to excessive protection requirements and labor-intensive packing.

Innovation Solution

A garment bag with a first section and a second section that can be transformed into a laundry container by inserting the first section into the second, allowing easy filling of dirty laundry and safe transport of clean laundry, featuring a design that allows it to stand independently and be converted for both transporting clothes on hangers and as a laundry container.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If disposable plastic garment bags are used to transport laundry, then waste is generated, but they are not suitable for protecting clean clothes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidwaste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The garment bag is designed to be used twice: first as a protective bag for clean clothes, then transformed into a laundry container for dirty clothes. After use, both functions are completed and the bag can be discarded, eliminating the need for separate disposable bags for each function while minimizing waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The garment bag serves dual purposes: protecting clean clothes during transport and containing dirty laundry. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate disposable bags for each purpose, reducing waste while maintaining ease of use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If higher-quality garment bags are used to protect clean clothes, then protection is improved, but they are labor-intensive to pack and not suitable for soiled laundry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection qualityVSAvoidpacking effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The same high-quality garment bag is used for both protecting clean clothes and containing dirty laundry. The transformation mechanism allows the bag to adapt to different functions without requiring separate bags, maintaining protection quality while reducing packing effort through reuse.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The garment bag is used to its full potential by first protecting clean clothes, then being transformed into a laundry container for dirty clothes. This maximizes the utility of the high-quality bag, eliminating the need for additional packing efforts with separate bags.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Stability of the object's composition

If the garment bag is made flat with a defined perimeter shape, then it can stand independently as a laundry container, but it reduces the storage volume for clothes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent standingVSAvoidstorage volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The garment bag is divided into a front side and a back side that are connected at the perimeter. This segmentation allows the bag to maintain a flat, stable structure when empty, while still providing sufficient volume when transformed into a laundry container through the insertion mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The front side is inserted into the back side to transform the garment bag into a laundry container. This nesting mechanism allows the flat structure to expand into a three-dimensional container with adequate storage volume while maintaining stability through the defined perimeter shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Volume of stationary object

If the garment bag has a deeper base configuration, then the storage volume increases, but it cannot be laid flat on the front side

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage volumeVSAvoidflat configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The garment bag structure is designed to be dynamic, transitioning between a flat configuration for storage and a three-dimensional laundry container configuration for use. The peripheral surface can be activated to create depth when needed, while maintaining the ability to lie flat when not in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The peripheral surface defining the depth is nested within the overall structure, allowing the bag to maintain a flat profile when not in use. When transformed into a laundry container, this peripheral surface is deployed to create the necessary storage volume without compromising the flat storage configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4291067B1Transformable garment bag
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 HANS JOACHIM SCHNEIDER
  • EP4291067B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4291067B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4291067B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a garment bag having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is designed to be pulled into the second portion. The garment bag can thereby be transformed into a laundry container forming a receiving volume. The application also relates to the use of a garment bag in which the garment bag is transformed into a laundry container forming a receiving volume by a first portion being pulled into a second portion, and/or a laundry container forming a receiving volume is transformed into a garment bag by the first portion being pulled out of the second portion.