Flexible Water Filter Priming Seal for Irregular Faucets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for priming water filters are cumbersome, inefficient, and often fail to maintain a proper seal, especially on faucets and filters of varying dimensions and configurations, requiring user intervention and potentially damaging fixtures.
Innovation Solution
A device with a barrel portion and handle that can be stretched to fit various shapes and sizes, providing a resilient seal without the need for user handling, using silicone materials for adaptability and ease of use, and allowing for increased compression force to prevent water from squirting out during priming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flat washer or button is used to seal against the faucet, then the device can be simple in structure, but it cannot maintain an adequate seal on rough or non-smooth surfaces and on faucets of varying shapes and sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible membrane or diaphragm that can conform to irregular faucet surfaces. This flexible element replaces rigid flat washers, allowing the seal to adapt to rough or non-smooth surfaces while maintaining simplicity in the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a resilient or elastic material for the sealing component that can change its shape and dimensions under pressure. This allows the seal to deform and conform to various faucet geometries, providing adaptability without requiring multiple specialized components.
2Reliability
If a clamp or multiple items are used to aid in priming, then the seal can be maintained more effectively, but the device becomes more complex and time-consuming to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function and the retention function into a single integrated component. The flexible membrane with its resilient properties simultaneously provides the seal against the faucet and maintains the connection during priming, eliminating the need for separate clamps or multiple items.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient membrane automatically maintains the seal and connection through its elastic properties. Once installed, the material's natural tendency to return to its original shape provides continuous sealing pressure and retention without requiring additional fastening mechanisms or user intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid washer is used, then the device is easier to manufacture, but it cannot distort to fit irregular faucet surfaces and requires user repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid washers with flexible membranes made from elastomeric materials. These materials can be manufactured using standard molding processes while providing the necessary flexibility to conform to irregular surfaces, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses elastomeric or polymeric materials that combine the ease of molding and manufacturing with the flexibility to distort and conform. These composite or specially formulated materials provide both manufacturability and adaptability to irregular surfaces simultaneously.
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 hands-free priming of water filters with a secure seal on diverse faucet and filter configurations, reducing the risk of water leakage and damage, while being easy to manufacture and use.
Implementation Method 1
the ring resiliently stretches to allow the device to engage objects of various shapes and sizes; and a second opening and a bottom surface situated on a second end of the device, wherein the second opening includes a channel that defines a circumference of the second opening, wherein the channel resiliently stretches to allow the device to engage objects of various shapes and sizes
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, methods and systems for at least priming water filters are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a device includes a barrel portion, a first opening, a handle portion, a second opening, and a bottom surface for engaging objects of various shapes and sizes, wherein at least a portion of the device is able to be rolled back onto itself at least once by a user. In one or more embodiments, a system includes: a device, a water filter and a faucet. In one or more embodiments, a method for using a device includes: operably attaching a water filter to the device, operably attaching the device to a faucet, applying water pressure from the faucet in order to prime the water filter, and observing the effects of water pressure on the device.