Stand-Alone Catch Tray with Deodorizing Screen for Hand Dryers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand dryers in public restrooms often cause water to drip onto the floor, leading to sanitation and maintenance issues, and lack effective deodorization due to inadequate air circulation, with no stand-alone catch system or built-in deodorizers available for all hand dryers.
Innovation Solution
A stand-alone catch tray with a deodorizing screen that captures water drips and releases fragrance when air from the hand dryer hits it, featuring a recessed sponge compartment, flat and angled deodorizing portions with flow orifices, and a removable design for use with any hand dryer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If manual or automatic sprays are used to deodorize restrooms, then deodorization is provided, but air circulation remains insufficient and deodorization effectiveness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The deodorizing screen utilizes the existing forced air flow from the hand dryer to activate fragrance release, converting the hand dryer's air flow function into a dual-purpose system that both dries hands and disperses deodorizing fragrance without requiring additional power sources or manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The deodorizing screen acts as an intermediary element positioned in the air flow path between the hand dryer and the surrounding environment, capturing the forced air and using it as a carrier to distribute fragrance molecules throughout the restroom space
2Productivity
If conventional hand dryers are used, then hand drying function is provided, but water drips onto the floor causing sanitation and maintenance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The catch tray serves as an intermediary device positioned between the hand dryer and the floor, intercepting water droplets that would otherwise drip onto the floor and channeling them into a collection reservoir for later disposal or evaporation
3Adaptability or versatility
If built-in catch trays and deodorizers are integrated into hand dryers, then both functions are provided, but compatibility with all hand dryer models is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The catch tray and deodorizing screen are designed as separate, modular components that can be independently installed and removed, allowing the system to be adapted to various hand dryer models without requiring complex integration or modification of the hand dryer itself
Solution Approach 2:
The catch tray system is designed with universal mounting features and dimensions that allow it to be installed on any standard hand dryer model, making the solution broadly applicable across different manufacturers and designs while maintaining both water catching and deodorizing functions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively reduces water spillage and provides continuous deodorization, enhancing sanitation and reducing maintenance costs by using a versatile catch tray system that can be adapted to any hand dryer, with replaceable deodorizing screens for ongoing fragrance release.
Implementation Method 1
forced air from the hand dryer contacts the deodorizing screen when the hand dryer is in use causing the deodorizing screen to release a fragrance and deodorize a surround area
Implementation Method 2
a top tray comprising a recessed sponge compartment sized to accommodate a sponge; the sponge positioned within the recessed sponge compartment
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for catching water under a hand dryer (11) while simultaneously deodorizing a surrounding area. The device may include a stand-alone catch tray (10); and a deodorizing screen (18) positioned within the catch tray (10) such that forced air from the hand dryer (11) contacts the deodorizing screen (18) when the hand dryer (11) is in use causing the deodorizing screen (18) to release a fragrance and deodorize a surround area. The catch tray (10) may include a top tray (12) including a recessed sponge compartment (26) sized to accommodate a sponge (24); a sponge (24) positioned within the recessed sponge compartment (26); a base tray (14) attached to the top tray (12); and a back wall (16) extending upward from the base tray (14).