Disposable vase

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional floral vases are heavy, fragile, difficult to clean, and prone to bacterial growth, which can shorten the life of cut flowers due to water consumption and bacterial contamination.

Innovation Solution

A disposable, lightweight vase with a water-receiving compartment and a flower support base featuring apertures that prevent flower stems from consuming the water, providing stability and preventing bacterial buildup by allowing water to pass through while keeping stems out, and optionally foldable for easy storage and made from environmentally friendly materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional glass or ceramic vases are used, then flowers can be displayed, but the vases are heavy, fragile and difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidease of cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable paper vase that is used once and then discarded, eliminating the need for cleaning and maintenance. The vase is designed to be inexpensive and environmentally degradable, allowing it to be replaced rather than cleaned or repaired after use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If water is added to the vase for flowers, then flowers can be kept fresh, but bacteria build up in the water and dirty vase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflower longevityVSAvoidbacterial contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vase is divided into separate functional zones: an upper display section for flower stems and a lower water reservoir section. This segmentation allows water to be contained in a controlled area while preventing direct contact between flower stems and bulk water, reducing bacterial contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The disposable nature of the paper vase ensures that bacterial buildup does not persist across multiple uses. After one use, the entire vase is discarded, eliminating the problem of recurring bacterial contamination that would occur with reusable vases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If flowers are placed in water, then they can be displayed, but flowers consume all the water in the vase within a few days

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay durationVSAvoidwater volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the water reservoir from the flower placement area, the design allows a larger volume of water to be stored in the lower compartment while only a controlled amount is accessible to the flowers through the aperture, preventing rapid consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The aperture in the vase bottom acts as an intermediary between the water reservoir and the flower stems. It controls and limits water access to flowers, allowing them to draw water gradually rather than consuming the entire reservoir quickly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If a disposable vase is used, then cleaning is not needed, but the vase may be unstable and fall over

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of disposalVSAvoidvase stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The vase design incorporates stability features in advance, such as a wide base and weighted lower water compartment, ensuring stability is built into the structure before use. This preliminary design consideration allows the disposable vase to remain stable throughout its use without requiring active stabilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The vase extends the life of cut flowers by maintaining a fresh environment, preventing bacterial contamination, and offering stability without the risk of falling over, while being easy to dispose of and made from sustainable materials.

Implementation Method 1

The at least one aperture is configured to allow water to pass there-through and configured or disposed to prevent stems of the flowers to pass through

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier filtering: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the flower support base has a conical or frustoconical shape thereby allowing the flowers stems to reach the bottom of the vase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational flow: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS10856676B2Disposable vase

Publication Date: 2020.12.08 BENTZUR YORAM

AI summary

A vase including sidewalls; an open upper end; a vase bottom; and at least one water-receiving compartment. The water receiving compartment is substantially located proximal to the vase bottom, configured to hold water, and includes at least one flower support base including at least one aperture which is spaced apart from the vase bottom. The at least one aperture is configured to allow water to pass there-through and configured or disposed to prevent stems of the flowers to pass through. As a result, when in use, flowers in the vase are prevented from consuming the water in the compartment, while water held in the receiving compartment provides weight to stabilize the vase.