Two-Compartment Wilderness Bag for Toiletry and Trash Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a lack of lightweight, convenient, and discrete equipment for managing toiletry items and toilet trash during wilderness bathroom activities, which hinders proper disposal and hygiene, especially in areas without trash receptacles, and existing tools fail to separate toilet trash from food trash effectively.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight, two-part bag with a transparent outer section for toiletry items and an opaque center section for toilet trash, using ultra-lightweight materials to minimize weight and facilitate easy disposal, featuring a resealable container for soiled items and loop hangers for hanging, promoting better sanitation and hygiene.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate items are used for toiletry items and toilet trash management, then functionality is adequate, but equipment weight and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidequipment weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate items (toiletry bag, trash bag, sanitizer container, hanging loops) into a single integrated lightweight bag structure. The bag includes an outer compartment for toiletries, an inner compartment for trash, integrated hanging loops, and a sanitizer pocket, all merged into one unit that weighs only a few ounces, eliminating the need to carry multiple separate items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bag is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously serves as a toiletry container, trash bag holder, sanitizer carrier, and hanging organizer. The single bag structure performs multiple functions that would traditionally require separate items, reducing overall equipment weight while maintaining full functionality for wilderness bathroom activities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If toilet trash is stored separately from toiletry items, then sanitation and discretion are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesanitation and discretionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bag is segmented into distinct compartments: an outer compartment for clean toiletry items and an inner compartment for toilet trash. This segmentation allows separate storage and management of clean and soiled items, improving sanitation and discretion while maintaining a simple single-bag structure that does not require multiple separate items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The trash bag is nested inside the main bag structure, with the trash bag holder integrated into the bag body. This nesting arrangement allows the trash storage function to be incorporated within the existing bag structure without adding external complexity, maintaining a simple single-bag design while achieving separate containment of soiled items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Loss of information

If transparent material is used for the outer section, then visibility of contents is improved, but discretion for trash storage is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of contentsVSAvoiddiscretion

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different sections of the bag have different transparency properties: the outer compartment containing clean toiletries is made transparent for easy identification and access, while the inner compartment containing trash is made opaque for discretion. This local differentiation of material properties allows simultaneous achievement of visibility where needed and discretion where required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Weight of moving object

If ultra-lightweight materials are used, then equipment weight is reduced, but strength and durability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment weightVSAvoidstrength and durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bag is constructed from lightweight yet durable composite materials, combining different materials with complementary properties: the outer bag material provides strength and durability, the inner trash bag material provides containment and discretion, and the hanging loops provide structural support. This composite construction achieves ultra-lightweight status while maintaining adequate strength for the intended use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS11160345B2Bag for personal items

Publication Date: 2021.11.02 RILEY JUDITH REICHEL

AI summary

A flexible, two-part bag. The bag has a first outer section for containing common toiletry items, such as toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, etc., including a small shovel, clean toilet paper, or package of moist wipes etc. The walls of the first outer section are preferably of transparent material or netting material to enable viewing of the contents. A second center section, formed inside the first outer section, and extending slightly above the first section, enables the contents of the sections to be separated, such that the bag forms at least two compartments.