Pet Waste Collector With Cable-Actuated Folding Tines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet waste disposal devices are poorly designed, made of flimsy materials, ineffective at cleaning up pet waste thoroughly, and often fail to handle different types of surfaces or environments, leading to spills, messes, and health risks.
Innovation Solution
A pet waste disposal device with a shaft and adjustable cables that allow for a range of motion, a base member with discrete portions, and a flexible waste disposal bag attachment mechanism, enabling the bag to transition between open and closed states for easy waste collection and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pet waste devices are made of cheap or flimsy materials, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but device durability and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple components (shaft, base member, bag, cables) that can be manufactured separately using cost-effective materials and processes, then assembled into a durable complete device. This segmentation allows optimization of each part's manufacturing while ensuring overall reliability through proper assembly connections.
2Ease of manufacture
If the device structure is simplified, then ease of manufacture is improved, but effectiveness at thoroughly cleaning up pet waste deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates self-adjusting cables and a spring mechanism that automatically adapt to different waste conditions and bag sizes without requiring complex control systems. The cables self-tension to maintain proper bag positioning, and the spring provides automatic tensioning, achieving effective waste collection with minimal mechanical complexity.
3Device complexity
If the device is designed for specific surfaces or environments, then design complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different surfaces and environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device features a universal base member design with cable attachment points that can accommodate various bag sizes and types. The adjustable cable system adapts to different ground surfaces (grass, pavement, dirt) and environmental conditions, allowing the same device structure to effectively collect waste across diverse outdoor settings without requiring design modifications.
4Weight of moving object
If the device size is reduced for portability, then ease of carrying is improved, but effectiveness at handling pet waste deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a flexible bag made of thin film material that can be compressed into a compact form for portability but expands to provide adequate capacity for waste collection. The flexible nature of the bag allows the device to maintain lightweight construction while still effectively containing and collecting pet waste when deployed.
Data Source
AI summary
A pet waste disposal device having an open and closed state includes a shaft, a slide, a hinged latch, and a base member. The shaft has a hollow center with one or more cables extending through it. The slide is able to move within a range along the shaft to change between the open and closed state. The cable(s) is connected to the slide. The hinged latch is connected to the shaft that engages the extrusion preventing movement of the slide when in the closed state. The base member is connected to a lower end of the shaft and includes a left tine and a right tine. When in the closed state, the left and right tines are positioned proximate to the center of the base member. When in the open state, the left and right tines are positioned as far away from the base member as possible. In one embodiment, transitioning from the open to closed state flips or rotates outer discrete portions of the base member, where the flipping and movement of the discrete portions of the base members repositions the tines.