Incontinence Container With Segmented Compartments And Tear Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing incontinence management systems face challenges in providing a convenient and sanitary way to store and dispose of incontinence products, particularly due to the bulkiness of soiled items, lack of controlled retention within containers, and the need for tamper-indication in institutional settings, which complicates handling, disposal, and cost accounting.

Innovation Solution

A container system with a stack of incontinence products arranged by usage order, featuring a tear line for easy access and resealing, and a design that separates fresh and soiled products, ensuring containment and tamper evidence, with a method of manufacture that forms a top and bottom compartment for organized storage and disposal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If soiled incontinence products are placed in the same container as fresh products, then storage space is saved, but sanitation and risk of contamination increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into two separate compartments: a first compartment for fresh incontinence products and a second compartment for soiled products. This segmentation allows both types of products to be stored in the same container while preventing contamination between them, thus maintaining sanitation without sacrificing storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a sealed container is used to protect products, then sanitation is improved, but ease of access and product retrieval deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesanitation protectionVSAvoidproduct access

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A tear line is provided in the container wall at a convenient location for users. This preliminary feature allows users to easily open the container by tearing along the pre-marked line without needing to use complex opening mechanisms, thus maintaining sanitation through sealing while preserving ease of access during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The container transitions from a sealed static state to an opened dynamic state through the tear line mechanism. The container remains sealed during storage for sanitation protection, then can be easily opened when needed through the tear line, providing dynamic adaptability between protection and access requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Volume of moving object

If products are stacked in a compact arrangement, then storage efficiency is improved, but ability to maintain product order and prevent mixing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidproduct order

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into multiple compartments that physically separate different types of products. This segmentation allows compact stacking and efficient use of space while preventing different products from mixing, thus maintaining both storage efficiency and product order through physical division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the container are designed with specific characteristics: the first compartment holds fresh products with one configuration, while the second compartment holds soiled products with a different configuration. This local differentiation maintains product order and prevents mixing while allowing overall compact arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If a simple container design is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but ability to provide tamper evidence and controlled retention deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidtamper evidence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The container includes a removable bottom portion that can be separated from the main body. This segmentation provides a simple yet effective tamper-evident mechanism: if the bottom portion is removed or displaced, it indicates potential tampering. The design remains relatively simple for cost-effective manufacturing while providing reliable tamper evidence through the separable component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8162146B2Incontinence management system and method employed

Publication Date: 2012.04.24 A J MOORE LLC

AI summary

A system for incontinence maintenance and method employed, of which the system is useful in incontinent care. A plurality of products suitable for use in an incontinence maintenance event are provided in a configuration stacked in the order of anticipated use of individual ones of the products, the first product anticipated for use being uppermost in the stack. A container is provided having a bottom compartment carrying the stack and a top compartment defining a flap extending from the bottom compartment. The container includes means for defining an opening in the bottom compartment to access the stack of goods and for accepting soiled goods therein, and means for resealing the bottom compartment to contain the soiled goods.