Humidity Absorber Container Assembly for Spill-Safe Drainage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers for environmental humidity absorbers with anti-spill systems are inefficient in preventing liquid spills when tipped over, as they require complex structures and are susceptible to obstruction, and lack effective sealing mechanisms for storage and transport.

Innovation Solution

A container device with a lower receptacle, a support tray sealed to the receptacle, and an upper lid with ventilation holes, featuring a drainage tube and a removable seal system that includes recessed projections and tongues for secure assembly and disassembly, allowing the device to occupy less space in storage and transport positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If drainage holes are used in the support tray, then liquid can drain efficiently into the receptacle, but the liquid spills out when the device tips over

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid drainage efficiencyVSAvoidliquid spill hazard
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A removable seal member is introduced as an intermediary element between the support tray and receptacle. This seal member can be positioned to block the drainage holes, preventing liquid spill when the device tips over, while allowing efficient drainage when in the correct orientation. The seal member acts as a mediator that reconciles the conflicting requirements of drainage efficiency and spill prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal member is designed to be removable and repositionable, allowing the system to dynamically adapt to different operational states. When the device is properly oriented, the seal member is positioned to allow drainage. When the device tips over, the seal member can be repositioned or removed to prevent spillage, making the system responsive to changes in orientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If anti-spill systems are implemented to prevent liquid spill when tipped over, then spill hazard is reduced, but the structure becomes complex and susceptible to obstruction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid spill hazardVSAvoidanti-spill system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-spill function is extracted from the main body of the device and embodied in a separate, removable seal member. This allows the anti-spill mechanism to be a simple, independent component rather than a complex integrated system. The seal member can be easily removed, cleaned, and repositioned without disassembling the entire device, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal member is designed to be removable and can be taken out for cleaning or replacement when obstructed by debris or salt deposits. This allows the anti-spill function to be maintained without complex mechanical systems, as the seal member can be discarded if damaged or recovered and cleaned for continued use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Strength

If the receptacle, tray, and lid are permanently sealed together, then structural integrity is improved, but storage and transport space efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidstorage space occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into separate components (receptacle, support tray, lid, and seal member) that can be disassembled for storage and transport. The seal member specifically is designed to be removable, allowing the components to be nested or stacked in a compact configuration. When assembled, these segments form a structurally integrity device with effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The components are designed to nest within each other when disassembled, with the lid potentially nesting over the receptacle, and the seal member being stored within the assembly. This nesting arrangement significantly reduces the volume occupied during storage and transport while maintaining structural integrity when assembled for use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 device effectively prevents liquid spills when tipped over by using a drainage tube and secure sealing mechanisms, while allowing efficient assembly and disassembly for compact storage and transport, enhancing the anti-spill performance and structural efficiency compared to previous designs.

Implementation Method 1

a drainage tube that extends vertically from the drainage hole towards the bottom of the receptacle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

The absorbing material which has been used for many years now, and more frequently for this type of dehumidification, is based on calcium chloride crystals which, due to their strong hygroscopic nature, are highly efficient

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHygroscopic absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2039416B1Container device for an environmental humidity absorber with an anti-spill system
Publication Date: 2011.11.30 TOP GRADE
  • EP2039416B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2039416B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2039416B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Container device for an environmental humidity absorber with an anti-spill system which comprises A lower receptable (1) to collect saline liquid with a recessed rib that fits into a peripheral flange in an outer part of a wall of a tray (2) for hygroscopic material, disposed over the upper edge of the receptable (1); A drainage tube (5) that extends vertically inserted in a central drainage hole of the receptable embedded into the base of the tray An upper lid (3) with ventilation holes (3a), a lateral peripheral flap (3d) over the tray wall and with a lower peripheral flange (3e) Recessed projections (2b) that fit into the complementary openings of respective horizontal recessed tongues (3b) that emerge from opposite sides of the lid (3), emerge from at least two respective opposing segments of the wall of the tray (2).