Dust Pan Lid Lever Mechanism for Spill-Free Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dust pans with attached garbage bags lack an easily manipulated lid for covering the open ends, making it difficult to retain the lid in an open position for collection and then close it without spillage during transport.
Innovation Solution
A dust pan design featuring a hollow pan with a movable lid cover, a hinge member, and a lever system with a spring mechanism to easily open and close the lid, allowing for hand-held operation and secure retention in an open or closed position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a dust pan structure with attached garbage bags is used, then dust and debris collection is enabled, but the ability to easily open and close the pan without spillage is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The dust pan employs a movable lid connected via a hinge member that allows dynamic transition between open and closed positions. The lid can be easily moved to open position for debris collection and securely closed to prevent spillage during transport, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and containment reliability
Solution Approach 2:
A hinge member acts as an intermediary mechanism between the lid and the dust pan body, enabling controlled movement and secure positioning. The hinge member with pivot pin allows the lid to be easily opened while maintaining reliable closure, bridging the gap between operational ease and spill prevention
2Reliability
If a lid is added to cover the open ends, then containment is improved, but the complexity of the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dust pan is segmented into distinct functional components: the pan body, the movable lid, the hinge member, and the lever system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall simplicity. The lid provides containment without requiring complex integration, as it connects through a simple hinge mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The spring member provides self-service by automatically urging the hinge member to maintain the lid in a closed position, eliminating the need for additional locking mechanisms or complex control systems. The spring's elastic force naturally ensures containment while allowing easy manual opening when needed
3Reliability
If a spring mechanism is used to urge the lid closed, then containment reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member serves itself by utilizing its inherent elastic properties to continuously urge the hinge member toward the closed position. This self-generating force requires no external power source, control system, or complex mechanism, yet reliably ensures secure closure and containment of debris throughout the dust pan's operation
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
Enables easy collection and transport of dust and dirt without spillage, as the lid can be effortlessly opened and closed using a handle-attached lever system, ensuring containment and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
A strip spring is attached at a lever handle member of the lever to urge the hinge member to position the lid cover in a closed position
Implementation Method 2
A lever with a pivot pin is rotatably attached to an upper pin aperture of the handle and the lever has a lever arm member rotatably engaged at a lower end with the hinge member
Implementation Method 3
A hinge member is attached at an upper edge of the lid cover with a hinge pivot pin at an upper end inserted in a lower pin aperture of the handle
Data Source
AI summary
A hollow dust pan has a bottom wall, two opposed upstanding side walls, an upstanding rear wall, a top wall, an open front, and a movable lid cover over said open front. A handle is attached to the top wall adjacent the open front to extend rearwardly adjacent to and spaced apart from the top wall. A lid cover has a hinge member rotatably attached to the handle to position a peripheral edge of the lid cover at a front peripheral edge of the open front. A lever with a pivot pin is rotatably attached to the handle and the lever has a lever arm member rotatably engaged at a lower end with the hinge member. A strip spring is attached at a lever handle member of the lever to urge the hinge member to position the lid cover in a closed position.