Elastic Dumpster Cover for Chute Dust and Odor Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dumpster and debris/trash chutes fail to effectively curb dust and odors emanating from construction and trash disposal, despite the use of materials like bleach, lime powder, and baking soda, which only address moisture and odors after debris has entered the air.
Innovation Solution
A substantially impermeable dumpster cover with an opening for receiving a chute, featuring elastic closures around the dumpster and chute openings to seal and prevent the egress of dust, debris, and odors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a dumpster cover is made substantially impermeable to prevent dust and odor escape, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of the closure mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs elastic closures that function as flexible sealing elements. These elastic bands or straps can be stretched to accommodate the dumpster and chute openings, then contract to create a tight seal. The flexibility allows the closure mechanism to adapt to slight variations in opening size while maintaining an effective seal against dust and odor escape, reducing the need for complex rigid sealing structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The elastic closures can be easily adjusted, tightened, or loosened as needed, allowing the system to adapt to different conditions. This dynamic adjustment capability simplifies the overall mechanism compared to fixed, complex sealing systems, while maintaining effective sealing performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cover is designed to seal around the chute exterior to prevent contamination, then the environmental protection is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic closures provide a flexible sealing mechanism that can accommodate variations in chute dimensions and surface irregularities. The flexibility of the elastic material allows it to conform to the actual geometry of the opening, achieving an effective seal without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on the rigid components.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure mechanism utilizes changes in the physical state of the elastic material through stretching and contracting. When installed, the elastic material is stretched to fit the opening dimensions, then contracts to create a tight seal. This parameter change in the material state allows the system to compensate for manufacturing variations and achieve effective sealing without high precision requirements.
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 cover effectively deters the exit of dust, debris, odors, mold, asbestos, and bacteria from dumpsters, providing a comprehensive solution to air pollution issues associated with construction and trash disposal.
Implementation Method 1
The cover has a closure around an opening that surrounds the outer sidewalls of a dumpster... the cover has an opening that receives the chute therethrough. This opening also has a closure for closing the opening around an exterior of the chute to substantially seal around the exterior surface of the chute
Data Source
AI summary
A cover for a dumpster having an upper opening for receiving trash or debris includes a substantially impermeable sheet member having a size that is at least as large as the upper opening of the dumpster. The cover also includes an upper surface of the sheet member defining an opening for receiving a chute. The cover includes a first elastic positioned around the outer edge of the sheet member to define a lower opening in the cover for closely fitting around the upper opening of the dumpster and a second elastic positioned around the opening in the upper surface of the sheet member for closely fitting the opening in the upper surface around an exterior of a chute. The cover deters the egress of unwelcome materials and odors from the dumpster during use.