Concave Top Plate for Gloved Microbial Air Sampling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microbial air samplers have a heavy and smooth top plate that is difficult to grasp with gloved hands, leading to challenges in handling and maintaining cleanliness in controlled environments.

Innovation Solution

The top plate features concaved sidewalls that provide ergonomic grip and reduce weight by approximately 20%, making it easier to lift and replace without disturbing the bottom plate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the top plate is made with a flat, smooth design for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing is simplified, but the device becomes difficult to grasp with gloved hands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetop plate manufacturingVSAvoidhandling with gloved hands

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature to the top plate by providing a concave portion on its outer surface. This curved feature enables operators wearing gloves to easily grasp and manipulate the top plate, while the overall simple structure maintains ease of manufacture. The concave curvature is specifically designed to accommodate gloved finger placement without complex manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Strength

If the top plate is made with sufficient thickness for structural strength, then the device maintains durability, but the weight increases making it harder to handle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetop plate structural integrityVSAvoidtop plate weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The top plate is segmented into regions of varying thickness: a thicker inner portion providing structural strength and support, and a thinner outer portion reducing weight. This segmentation allows the plate to maintain sufficient durability while being easier to handle and remove from the bottom plate during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the top plate has a simple flat design, then the device structure remains simple, but the top plate cannot be easily distinguished from the bottom plate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverall device structureVSAvoidplate identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The top plate is designed with asymmetric features including a concave portion on its outer surface and positioning protrusions that engage with the bottom plate. These asymmetric elements provide tactile differentiation, allowing operators to easily identify and correctly orient the top plate versus the bottom plate during assembly and removal operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS20250282521A1Ergonomic microbial air sample

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 VELTEK ASSOCIATES INC

AI summary

A gas sampler device has a top plate with a concaved outer wall. The concaved outer wall allows users easily to lift the top plate off of the bottom plate without disturbing the bottom plate because the curved surface permits more positive contact between the outer wall and users' fingers. Moreover, the weight of the top plate is reduced by approximately twenty percent compared to conventional top plates, a feature that also makes it easier for users to lift the top plate off of the bottom plate.