Collapsible Liquid Container with Planar-to-3D Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current disposable male urine bottles are inefficient in storage and transportation due to their rigid shape, costly to manufacture, and difficult to dispose of using macerator systems, with issues of leakage and compatibility with hospital disposal systems.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible liquid container made from planar material with three connecting edges, including a tab and aperture locking mechanism, allowing conversion from a flat to an open configuration without external fasteners, using polyethylene-coated cardboard or bamboo, which is waterproof and biodegradable, enabling easy storage, transportation, and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid shape is used for the container, then structural stability is improved, but storage space and transportation efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed to transition from a rigid planar configuration during storage and transportation to a flexible three-dimensional collapsed configuration during use. This dynamic transformation allows the container to occupy minimal space when not in use while maintaining structural integrity when needed, directly resolving the contradiction between structural stability and storage volume.
2Reliability
If a membrane is used to make the container liquid-tight, then liquid containment is improved, but manufacturing cost and disposal difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs a composite structure combining a rigid planar base material with an integrated liquid-tight lining. This composite approach provides effective liquid containment while avoiding the use of separate expensive membranes, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and improving ease of production.
3Reliability
If a membrane is used to make the container liquid-tight, then liquid containment is improved, but disposal compatibility with macerator systems worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed as a disposable product with a planar material base that is compatible with macerator disposal systems. By eliminating the membrane component and using macerator-compatible materials, the container can be easily disposed of in standard hospital facilities, directly improving disposal compatibility while maintaining liquid containment through the integrated lining.
4Stability of the object's composition
If external fasteners are used to maintain the open configuration, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates self-locking features that automatically maintain the open three-dimensional configuration without requiring external fasteners. The structure itself provides the locking mechanism through its geometric design, eliminating the need for additional fastening components and simplifying both the device and its operation.
5Adaptability or versatility
If the container is made from recycled wood/paper-based pulp, then environmental sustainability is improved, but structural stability and waterproofing worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The container uses a composite structure where recycled wood/paper-based pulp forms the rigid planar base providing structural stability, while an integrated liquid-tight lining provides waterproofing. This composite approach maintains the environmental benefits of recycled materials while overcoming their limitations in structural stability and water resistance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid container comprises a rigid planar material defining first and second faces interconnected by at least two connecting edges, and each face has an inner surface and an outer surface. The container is characterised in that it is configured to be converted, upon application of substantially opposing forces to two sides of the container, from a planar configuration, in which the inner surface of the first face is substantially adjacent to the inner surface of the second face, to an open configuration, in which the inner surfaces of the first and second faces are spaced apart and which, in combination with the at least two connecting edges, define a volume therebetween for containing liquid.