Hinged Rinsing Agent Container with Drainage Gap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toilet flushing agent containers often suffer from water accumulation, which hampers the proper dissolution and display of the flushing agent, leading to reduced effectiveness and hygiene issues.

Innovation Solution

A toilet flushing agent container designed by thermoforming and stamping a sheet, featuring a hinge-connected first and second section with a gap between them, allowing flushing water to flow through and drain freely, preventing water buildup and enhancing the contact time of the agent with water.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the container is designed with a closed structure to hold the rinsing agent, then the rinsing agent can be contained and positioned, but rinsing water accumulates in the container preventing proper dissolution and effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of rinsing agentVSAvoidwater accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The container is designed with through-openings in its walls, transforming it from a solid closed structure to a porous/perforated structure. This allows rinsing water to flow through the container walls, preventing water accumulation inside while maintaining the container's ability to hold and dissolve the rinsing agent effectively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The container is divided into multiple sections (first section with first shell and first tab, second section with second shell and second tab) connected by a hinge. This segmentation creates internal pathways and prevents complete water trapping, allowing water to flow through different zones of the container rather than accumulating in a single enclosed space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the container structure is simplified for easy manufacture, then production cost decreases, but water drainage and flow-through capability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer productionVSAvoidwater flow through container
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is formed from a thermoplastic film through thermoforming, which is a relatively simple and cost-effective manufacturing process. The thin film structure inherently allows for easy creation of through-openings and maintains flexibility for water flow, combining manufacturing simplicity with effective water drainage capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The container incorporates a hinge connecting the first and second sections, allowing the structure to be dynamic rather than rigid. This enables the container to adapt to different mounting positions and orientations, ensuring proper water flow paths regardless of installation orientation, thereby maintaining productivity without complicating manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the container is designed with multiple sections and hinge connection, then water can drain freely and effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedissolution and display of flushing agentVSAvoidcontainer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional elements are merged into a single integrated structure: the container walls provide both containment and drainage (through through-openings), the hinge connects sections while enabling motion, and the overall design combines mounting, dissolution, and drainage functions in one unified container rather than separate components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 improves the hygiene by preventing water accumulation, extends the service life of the flushing agent, and ensures reproducible and defined dosing, enhancing the flushing agent's effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a hinge (130) coupled to the at least one first tab (111) and at least one second tab (121), thus connecting the at least one first shell (112) and at least one second shell (122) to one another, so that the first section (110) and second section (120) can be pivoted relative to one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge mechanism: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

The container (100) has at least one clamping unit (114), by means of which the container (100) can be clamped in or under the rim (112a) of a toilet bowl (W) in the operating position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectClamping force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

a gap (140) at least partially between the at least one first shell (112) and at least one second shell (122) when the first section (110) and second section (120) are in the operating position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity-driven flow: Gravitation

Implementation Method 4

when flushing, the container is overflowed by the flushing water and part of the flushing agent is dissolved and distributed in the toilet bowl with the flushing water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP3214232B1Wc rinsing agent container
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 WERNER & MERTZ GMBH
  • EP3214232B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3214232B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3214232B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Thus, a toilet flushing agent container (100) is provided, formed by thermoforming and punching a film. The container (100) has a first section (110) with at least one first shell (112) and at least one first tab (111). A second section (120) has at least one second shell (122) and at least one second tab (121). The container (100) further has a hinge (130) that is coupled to the first and second tabs (111, 121) so that the first and second sections (110, 120) are pivotable relative to each other and arranged substantially parallel to each other in an operating position. The container (100) further comprises a spacer (113) to provide a distance or gap at least partially between the first and second sections (110, 120) when the first and second sections (110, 120) are in the operating position.The at least one first and at least one second shell (112, 121) together form a chamber in which a rinsing agent can be placed.