Funnel With Integrated Rotating Tool Holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional funnels often fail to efficiently guide liquids from containers with sealed drain openings, as the process of opening these openings requires manual tools and can result in fluid leakage onto tools or the user's hands, and positioning the funnel is limited by the need for hand access, leading to potential spills and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A funnel design with an integrated tool holder and support members that allows rotation of tools within the funnel, enabling the user to manipulate tools to open drain openings without hand access, while the funnel's design captures leaking fluid and directs it towards the outlet orifice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional funnel is used with manual tool operations, then the funnel can guide fluid flow, but hand access is required for tool manipulation which leads to fluid leakage onto hands or tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the funnel and tool holder into a single integrated unit. The tool holder is positioned within the funnel body, allowing the user to manipulate tools through the funnel's opening without direct hand access to the drain opening. This merging eliminates the need for separate hand access while maintaining both fluid guidance and tool manipulation functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The funnel acts as an intermediary between the user and the drain opening. By positioning the tool holder within the funnel and allowing tool manipulation through the funnel's opening, the funnel mediates the interaction between the user's hands and the drain opening, preventing direct exposure to leaking fluid while still enabling tool operation.
2Productivity
If the funnel is positioned close to the container for efficient fluid capture, then fluid guidance is improved, but hand access for tool manipulation becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the tool holder within the funnel body allows the funnel to be positioned close to the drain opening for efficient fluid capture while the tool holder provides a separate access point for tool manipulation. This combining of functions resolves the spatial conflict between fluid capture efficiency and hand access requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual tools are used for opening drain openings, then tool flexibility is maintained, but the process requires separate positioning of funnel and tools leading to potential spills
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated design merges the funnel and tool holder into a single unit, ensuring that when the funnel is positioned for fluid capture, the tool holder is automatically positioned for tool manipulation. This eliminates the risk of spills caused by separate positioning and improves fluid containment reliability while maintaining tool flexibility.
4Ease of operation
If a tool holder is added to the funnel, then tool manipulation without hand access is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool holder is merged with the funnel body as an integrated unit. The support members extend from the funnel's inner surface to the tool holder, creating a unified structure. This merging approach enables tool manipulation without hand access while minimizing the increase in device complexity through integrated design.
5Productivity
If the tool holder is positioned within the funnel, then fluid guidance is maintained, but the tool holder occupies space within the funnel interior
Solution Approach 1:
The tool holder is positioned in a specific location within the funnel interior, with support members extending from the inner surface. The design optimizes the local arrangement to minimize obstruction of fluid flow while providing adequate space for tool manipulation. The support members are configured to provide structural support with minimal interference to the fluid guidance path.
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
This design effectively captures leaking fluid and directs it into the funnel, reducing spills and improving the efficiency of fluid transfer by allowing tool manipulation without hand access, ensuring fluid containment and efficient drainage.
Implementation Method 1
The support members extend between an inner surface of the sidewall and the tool holder to support the tool holder within the funnel... The support member and tool holder may be rotatable with the sidewall about the funnel axis to rotatably drive a tool connected to the tool holder when the funnel is rotated about the funnel axis by a user
Data Source
AI summary
A funnel can include an inlet orifice, an outlet orifice and a sidewall extending axially between the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice. The funnel can also include a tool holder for holding at least one tool and that is disposed within the funnel. At least first and second support members can extend between an inner surface of the sidewall and the tool holder to support the tool holder within the funnel. The first support member, second support member and tool holder may be rotatable with the sidewall about a funnel axis to rotatably drive a tool connected to the tool holder when the funnel is rotated about the funnel axis by a user.