Handheld Litter Disposal Device with Pivot Cap and Extinguishing System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designated smoking areas often lack portable and aesthetically pleasing ashtrays or ash containers, leading to litter and fire hazards due to improper disposal of cigarette ash and butts, and limiting opportunities for smokers to dispose of waste.
Innovation Solution
A handheld litter disposal device with a cap and storage system that allows for temporary containment and extinguishing of cigarette ashes and butts, featuring a pivot system for easy opening and closing, and an integrated extinguishing system to prevent accidental fires, designed for portability and convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional ashtrays and ash containers are used, then cigarette ash and butts can be disposed of properly, but they are aesthetically unpleasing and limit portability
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from a static traditional ashtray to a dynamic handheld container that can be moved between open and closed positions. The pivot system enables the cap to rotate, allowing the device to adapt its state based on usage needs, thereby achieving both portability and aesthetic flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into separable components: a storage body and a removable cap. This segmentation allows the cap to be detached for cleaning or storage, and enables the storage body to function independently as a portable container, resolving the contradiction between aesthetic appearance and functional portability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ashtrays are placed in permanent locations, then they provide stable ash disposal, but they reduce opportunities for smokers to dispose of litter portably
Solution Approach 1:
The device serves multiple functions: it acts as a portable ashtray for outdoor use, a storage container for transport, and a fire safety device with extinguishing capabilities. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate permanent and portable ash disposal solutions, achieving both adaptability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device includes self-contained extinguishing mechanisms (water reservoir, wick system) that automatically or manually extinguish cigarettes without requiring external assistance. This self-service capability ensures reliable fire safety while maintaining portability, as the device carries its own fire suppression system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If no ash containers are provided, then litter and fire hazards increase, but providing them reduces environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The device converts the potentially harmful hot cigarette into a controlled disposal process. The extinguishing system safely neutralizes the fire hazard, and the sealed storage body contains the litter, transforming what would be environmental pollution into a contained, manageable state that prevents both fire and litter hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The device takes preliminary action by providing ash containers and extinguishing mechanisms before the user needs to dispose of litter. This pre-provisioned system prevents fire hazards and litter pollution from occurring in the first place, rather than addressing them after they arise.
4Ease of operation
If handheld containers are used, then portability is improved, but they must be sealed to prevent leakage and maintain shape
Solution Approach 1:
The storage body is designed with a rounded, spherical shape that naturally resists deformation and maintains its form when handheld. This curved geometry simplifies the sealing requirement compared to angular shapes, as the rounded form distributes stress evenly and maintains structural integrity during portability and storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A handheld litter disposal device for temporarily storing and containing cigarette ash, butts, and other litter. The litter disposal device includes a cap, a storage system, a pivot system adapted to permit the cap to move between the closed and open positions, and an extinguishing system containable within the storage system and adapted to extinguish the lit end of a cigarette. In the open position, ashes, butts, and unused portions of cigarettes, cigars, and/or other similar products can be transported from the outside to the inside of the litter disposal device and vice versa. In the closed position, however, cigarette ash and butts cannot enter or exit the storage system of the litter disposal device. The storage system has a rounded bottom or outer surface to prevent the litter disposal device from maintaining an upright position.