Hand-Washing System with Basin-Pump Product Dispensing to Reduce Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand-washing systems with fluid-dispensing brushes often result in wastage of cleaning products due to inefficient dispensing mechanisms, where excess product drips from the brush head and is not effectively replenished.
Innovation Solution
A hand-washing system comprising a handheld implement with a handle and head, and a separable base that includes a basin, a pump, and a product container, where the pump conveys product from the container to the basin's inner cavity via a through-hole, allowing the user to actuate the pump by plunging force, ensuring efficient product dispensing and replenishment on the implement's head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional fluid-dispensing brush with valve mechanism is used, then cleaning product can be dispensed directly onto bristles, but excess product drips from the brush head causing waste and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the dispensing function into two independent components: the pump mechanism in the base that controls product flow, and the handheld implement that receives product in the basin. This segmentation allows precise control of product delivery while preventing uncontrolled dripping from the brush head.
Solution Approach 2:
The basin acts as an intermediary between the product reservoir and the handheld implement. Product is pumped into the basin first, then transferred to the implement head, providing a controlled intermediate stage that prevents direct uncontrolled dispensing and allows excess product to be contained and reused.
2Productivity
If excess cleaning product is dispensed onto the brush head, then the brush can be used immediately, but the excess product is not effectively replenished and is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing excess product to be wasted, the system recovers it by containing it in the basin. The basin serves as a reservoir that collects and stores excess product for later reuse, transforming what would be waste into a recoverable resource that maintains cleaning efficiency over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through the transparent or translucent basin, allowing users to monitor product levels and understand the relationship between product pumped into the basin and product transferred to the implement. This feedback mechanism helps users optimize product usage and replenishment timing.
3Loss of substance
If a pump mechanism is added to convey product from container to basin, then product dispensing is controlled and efficient, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump mechanism is designed to be manually operated by the user through simple plunging or pressing motions, eliminating the need for complex automated control systems, motors, or power sources. This self-service approach provides controlled product dispensing while keeping the system simple and easy to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump mechanism is integrated into the base structure, combining the product storage container, pump, and basin into a single unified unit. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining controlled product dispensing functionality.
4Ease of operation
If the basin includes vertical walls forming a mouth opening to an inner cavity, then the handheld implement can be properly received and positioned, but the basin occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The basin features localized structural variations: vertical walls at the upper portion for proper implement reception and positioning, and a tapered or sloped lower portion for efficient product flow toward the pump inlet. This local quality differentiation achieves precise implement positioning while minimizing overall basin volume.
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 system neatly and efficiently dispenses liquid or semi-liquid products onto handheld implements, minimizing waste by allowing excess product to pool in the basin for reuse and enabling easy replenishment, reducing wear on the implement's head.
Implementation Method 1
The pump conveys the product from the reservoir to the inner cavity via at least one through-hole in the basin
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a system including a handheld implement having a handle and a head. The system also includes a base having a basin, a pump, and a product container. The basin includes vertical walls forming mouth opening to an inner cavity that receives the head of the handheld implement. The product container includes a reservoir of product. The pump conveys the product from the reservoir to the inner cavity via at least one through-hole in the basin.