Roll-out cart bite guard for bear-resistant latches
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roll-out trash and recycling containers are vulnerable to actuation by animals, such as bears, which can inadvertently open the lid and contaminate contents or cause operational issues during collection.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a guard mechanism around the outer latch assembly that prevents animals from biting or actuating the latch by positioning the latch actuators within a recess defined by fins, ensuring that only a user's fingers can access the actuators while keeping animals' jaws out.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the latch actuators are made accessible on the exterior of the container body for easy user operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because animals can inadvertently actuate the latch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a recess in the container body that specifically protects the latch actuators. The recess has localized dimensions that are small enough to prevent animal jaws from reaching the actuators while still allowing human fingers to access and operate them. This selective modification of the container body structure at the specific location of the latch mechanism resolves the contradiction between accessibility and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess acts as an intermediary barrier between the latch actuators and the external environment. It provides a controlled access path that filters out harmful interactions (animal biting) while permitting useful interactions (human operation). The recess geometry serves as a mediator that translates the conflicting requirements into a functional design solution.
2Reliability
If the container lid is secured with a latch mechanism, then the reliability of closure is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the additional latch assembly components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective function with the existing latch assembly by integrating the recess directly into the container body structure. Rather than adding a separate protective cover or housing, the design combines the containment function of the container body with the protective function for the latch actuators. This merging approach maintains reliability while minimizing additional complexity.
3Reliability
If the recess protecting the latch actuators is made smaller to prevent animal access, then the reliability against animal interference is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates if users cannot access the actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the dimensional parameters of the recess. The recess depth, width, and opening size are specifically designed to fall within a range that excludes animal jaws (based on typical animal jaw dimensions) while including human fingers. This precise parameter selection resolves the contradiction by creating a size-based filter that differentiates between harmful and useful interactions.
Data Source
AI summary
A roll-out cart includes a container body having a side wall extending upward to a mouth of the container body. A lid is pivotably connected to a rear portion of the container body. The lid is pivotable between an open position and a closed position covering the mouth of the container body. A latch selectively secures a front portion of the lid to a front portion of the container body. The latch includes an outer latch assembly having a first actuator. A guard defines a recess on the front portion of the container body. The first actuator of the latch is within the recess.