Collecting device for offcuts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing waste collection devices are not compactly foldable and do not provide a safe and easy mechanism for opening and closing, leading to potential leakage and odor issues without the use of gelling agents.

Innovation Solution

A cylindrical collection bag made of opaque, fluid-tight plastic with a flexible cuff and spring clip mechanism that allows for easy one-handed opening and closing, eliminating the need for gelling agents by using a nano-coated wax paper hopper and a safety lock for secure disposal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a collection device uses gelling agents to prevent leakage, then leakage prevention is improved, but the device complexity and material safety increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage preventionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes gelling agents from the collection device, extracting the problematic component that caused complexity and safety concerns. Instead, it uses a simple adhesive strip mechanism for closure and a fluid-tight bag design to prevent leakage without requiring chemical gelling agents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a disposable collection bag made of fluid-tight plastic material that is discarded after single use. This eliminates the need for complex cleaning and sterilization processes, replacing them with a simple, inexpensive, single-use design that prevents leakage through its inherent fluid-tight construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Volume of moving object

If the collection device is made compactly foldable, then portability is improved, but the ease of opening and closing may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefoldable sizeVSAvoidease of opening and closing
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The collection device is segmented into distinct functional components: a collapsible collection bag, a separate adhesive strip for closure, and a flexible cuff with opening areas. This segmentation allows the bag to be compactly folded while maintaining simple operation through the independent adhesive strip mechanism that can be easily applied regardless of the bag's folded state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the device uses a simple opening mechanism, then ease of operation is improved, but safety and reliability of closure may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of opening and closingVSAvoidclosure safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive strip closure mechanism is self-service in nature - it automatically bonds when applied to itself, requiring no additional fastening steps or complex mechanisms. The flexible cuff structure with defined opening areas provides self-support during operation, eliminating the need for external support structures while maintaining closure reliability through the simplicity of the adhesive bonding mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3718517B1Collecting device for offcuts
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 HOHMUTH HORST
  • EP3718517B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3718517B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP3718517B1 patent drawingFigure 3B

AI summary

A collection device (100; 200; 300) for excretions is described, comprising a collection bag (102) with a first collection bag opening area (108) and a flexible cuff (104). The flexible cuff (104) includes a first (110) and a second cuff opening area (118). The first collection bag opening area (108) is arranged opposite the first cuff opening area (110). The flexible cuff (104) includes a spring clip (112) that opens and closes the flexible cuff (104). In particular, the collection device (100; 200; 300) includes a filling funnel (106) having a first filling funnel opening area (126), the first filling funnel opening area (126) being arranged opposite the second cuff opening area (118).