Perforated Donation Receptacle for Secure Liquid Refuse Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Donation receptacles in public locations are prone to theft and vandalism, and conventional receptacles are not designed to handle liquid refuse, making them unsuitable for less secure locations.

Innovation Solution

A donation receptacle with a collection inlet, a proceeds bin, and perforated sections that separate monetary donations from liquid refuse, featuring a donation path and means to direct unwanted liquids away, allowing for secure collection and easy retrieval of donations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If donation receptacles are placed in easy to access locations, then donor convenience is improved, but theft and tampering risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedonor convenienceVSAvoidsecurity against theft and tampering

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle is divided into separate functional zones: a collection area for donations and a refuse area for liquid waste. The perforated divider creates distinct pathways, separating the donation collection function from the refuse disposal function, allowing the receptacle to handle multiple types of inputs securely in one location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The perforated section acts as an intermediary element that separates monetary donations from liquid refuse. It allows the receptacle to process both types of materials through different paths, with the perforations enabling liquid to pass through while retaining solid donations, thus mediating between the two conflicting requirements of accessibility and security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional receptacles are used in public locations, then donation collection is enabled, but they cannot handle liquid refuse

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle different types of donationsVSAvoidsuitability for less secure locations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle is designed to perform multiple functions: collecting monetary donations, receiving liquid refuse, and automatically separating them. The perforated section enables the same receptacle structure to handle both solid and liquid materials appropriately, making it universally suitable for various donation scenarios in public locations without requiring separate containers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If donation receptacles are monitored by employees or removed overnight, then theft prevention is improved, but operational complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetheft preventionVSAvoidmonitoring and retrieval operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle performs self-service by automatically separating liquid refuse from monetary donations through the perforated section. This passive separation mechanism eliminates the need for active monitoring or manual intervention to prevent contamination, allowing the receptacle to protect its contents and maintain functionality autonomously in unattended public locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 solution provides a secure and efficient method for collecting monetary donations while automatically separating and disposing of liquid refuse, reducing tampering and vandalism risks, and facilitating easy access to collected funds.

Implementation Method 1

The at least one perforated section is positioned along the donation path and is configured to separate the monetary donations from undesired liquid refuse also received via the collection inlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20080073421A1Donation receptacle

Publication Date: 2008.03.27 NORTHGREEN COMM

AI summary

A donation receptacle is described including a collection inlet, a proceeds bin, and at least one perforated section. The collection inlet is configured to receive monetary donations. The proceeds bin is configured to store the monetary donations received via the collection inlet. A donation path is at least partially defined between the collection inlet and the proceeds bin such that the monetary donations received via the collection inlet move along the donation path to the proceeds bin. The at least one perforated section is positioned along the donation path and is configured to separate the monetary donations from undesired refuse also received via the collection inlet.