Frustropyramidal Urine Collector Spillage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urine collectors lack a mechanism to prevent spillage and are difficult for old and handicapped patients to use, as they require complex and costly features that are not efficient or economical.
Innovation Solution
An integral urine collector with a frustoconical member and internal locking block that cooperatively receives a resilient funnel member, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and preventing spillage by engaging the funnel locking assembly without drastic movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a removable funnel member is used in existing urine collectors, then the device can be disassembled for cleaning, but the device requires complex locking mechanisms that are difficult for old and handicapped patients to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel member is designed as a separate removable component divided into distinct sections (funnel body and spout), allowing it to be detached for cleaning while maintaining simple assembly through the frustoconical engagement mechanism with the collection tube
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is extracted from the funnel member itself and relocated to the collection tube (frustoconical member with internal through aperture), eliminating the need for complex locking features on the funnel while maintaining secure attachment
2Reliability
If complex locking mechanisms are added to prevent spillage, then urine collection reliability improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frustoconical shape creates localized engagement points at specific locations on the funnel spout and collection tube, providing reliable spillage prevention through geometric interlocking rather than complex mechanical locks
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding active locking components to the funnel, the solution inverts the approach by designing the collection tube with an active frustoconical locking feature that passively secures the funnel through its geometry alone
3Device complexity
If drastic movements are required to insert the funnel member, then the locking mechanism can be simpler, but spillage and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frustoconical shape is pre-formed on the collection tube to guide and gradually receive the funnel spout, eliminating the need for drastic insertion movements while maintaining secure locking from the outset
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 an easy-to-manipulate, spillage-free urine collection device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, allowing female users to collect urine while standing and reducing the complexity of handling for all users.
Implementation Method 1
The frustropyramidal funnel member (20) is resiliently deformable, the cross-section of the narrow end (22) changes from a flattened rhombus shape to a square shape
Data Source
AI summary
A urine collector for females that use a frustropyramidal funnel member with a narrow end that has a rhombus-shape cross-section that a user can deform to fit a cooperating locking assembly with a frustropyramidal through aperture. As the deforming pressure on the folds of the funnel member is released, the outer walls of the narrow end of the funnel engage the internal walls of a frustropyramidal central through aperture in the locking assembly keeping the funnel member in place. The locking assembly can be integrally built in the collecting container or in a separate closure locking assembly.