Elevated Garbage Collector with Resilient Flaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Municipal environments face increasing pollution from plastic and glass bottles and metal cans, which also pose a risk as homeless individuals search through litter bags for recyclable materials.
Innovation Solution
A garbage collector device designed with a body on top of standers and a door or drawer above toddler height, featuring an aperture closed with resilient flaps, and cleansing holes for easy cleaning and proper waste segregation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the aperture is positioned low for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but accessibility by homeless individuals is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is repositioned from a low position to a high position on the body, changing the spatial dimension of access. This allows the aperture to be positioned above toddler height (improving safety) while remaining accessible to adult homeless individuals (maintaining accessibility). The standers elevate the entire device, creating vertical separation between children and the aperture.
2Ease of operation
If the door or drawer is positioned low for easy retrieval, then ease of operation is improved, but safety from toddler tampering is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The door or drawer is repositioned from a low position to a high position on the body, changing the vertical dimension of retrieval access. This ensures the door/drawer is positioned above toddler height, preventing tampering, while remaining accessible to adult users who need to retrieve recyclables.
3Ease of operation
If the body is positioned low for easy cleaning, then ease of operation is improved, but prevention of toddler access is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The body is elevated by standers, changing its vertical position from low to high. This creates vertical separation that prevents toddler access to the device while maintaining ease of cleaning for adult users who can reach the elevated position.
4Adaptability or versatility
If resilient flaps are added to close the aperture, then waste segregation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Resilient flaps are installed at the aperture to automatically close and seal the opening when not in use. The flaps are passive components that self-regulate based on pressure differentials and gravity, eliminating the need for active mechanical closing mechanisms while effectively preventing unauthorized access and improving waste segregation.
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 device facilitates easy cleaning and prevents tampering by children, while encouraging proper waste disposal and allowing homeless individuals to retrieve recyclables, thus addressing environmental and social issues.
Implementation Method 1
the aperture is closed off with resilient flaps
Implementation Method 2
Gravity can then simply assist when collecting the bottles and cans down into the body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Garbage collector device (1), in particular for bottles and cans, said device comprising a body (2) provided with an aperture (3) for receiving the bottles and cans, and said body (2) comprising a storage room for the bottles and cans to which the aperture (3) provides access, wherein said body (2) comprises a door or drawer (4) which is arranged to provide access to a part of the storage room below the aperture (3) so as to enable retrieving said bottles and cans.