Drum Opening Seal Structure for Low-Friction Odor Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waste disposal devices for personal hygiene materials and products, such as diaper pails, struggle to effectively prevent odor escape, particularly at the interface between moving components, despite attempts to improve seals, which often require additional parts and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A waste disposal device with a drum housing and a flexible sealing member having upwardly facing raised sealing portions, providing a double or multiple seals, reduces friction and enhances odor retention by using a single flexible sealing member with reduced contact surface, suitable for both pill-shaped and cylindrical drum bodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple seals and additional related parts are provided to prevent odor escape, then odor control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single integrated sealing member that simultaneously seals both the drum opening and the interface between the receptacle assembly and pail. This single sealing member includes a first sealing portion for the drum opening and a second sealing portion for the receptacle-pail interface, eliminating the need for separate seals and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective odor control.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both the seal for the drum opening and the seal for the receptacle assembly to pail interface. This universal sealing component performs multiple sealing tasks that would traditionally require separate parts, thereby reducing device complexity and assembly requirements while preventing odor escape effectively.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a seal is provided between moving surfaces of the drum and drum housing, then odor control is improved, but friction increases and user effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed with different local qualities - the first sealing portion is configured to contact the drum housing with minimal friction to allow easy drum rotation, while the second sealing portion provides effective sealing at the receptacle-pail interface. This localized differentiation ensures that sealing is provided where needed without creating excessive friction during drum operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member is designed to dynamically adapt during drum rotation, maintaining effective sealing contact while allowing smooth movement. The flexible nature of the sealing member enables it to conform to the moving drum surfaces during rotation, providing continuous odor protection without creating excessive friction that would increase user effort.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional seals and parts are added to prevent odor escape, then odor control is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sealing functions into a single sealing member that can be manufactured as one integrated component rather than multiple separate parts. This reduces manufacturing complexity, assembly operations, and associated costs while maintaining effective odor control through the combined sealing portions for both the drum opening and receptacle-pail interface.
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 improved odor control with reduced user effort, suitable for various user groups including the elderly and medical facilities, while minimizing friction and maintaining efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible sealing member extending about an edge of the drum opening of the drum housing for that part that is closely connected to the external surface of the drum body
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a waste disposal device for refuse, comprising a container having a container opening and closing means that are positioned near to the container opening for substantially closing the container opening in such a way that odour release is prevented. The closing means comprising a drum housing comprising a drum opening and housing a drum body, wherein the drum body is pivotable between an insertion position for placing refuse in the waste disposal device and a transit position for aligning the refuse with the drum opening. The drum opening further comprising a flexible sealing member extending about the edge of the drum opening for that part that is closely connected to the external surface of the drum body, wherein the flexible sealing member having upwardly facing raised sealing portions in a direction away from the bottom of the container, that are in contact with the external surface of the drum body or wherein the flexible sealing member comprises two separated flexible sealing parts.