Interior Liner Dispenser for Trash Can Streamlined Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Receptacle assemblies often face issues with liners being inaccessible, leading to inconvenience and increased chances of waste contaminating the receptacle, as liners are typically stored elsewhere and not easily replaceable.
Innovation Solution
A receptacle assembly design featuring an interior liner dispenser positioned between the rear and front walls, allowing for easy access to liners without external protrusions, which can be concealed within the outer shell, enabling convenient replacement and maintaining a streamlined appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If liners are stored in a location spaced away from the trash can (e.g., in a closet or under a sink), then the trash can maintains a streamlined appearance, but the liners become inaccessible and users may forget to replace them
Solution Approach 1:
The liner dispenser is nested within the cavity space formed between the outer shell and the basin of the trash can. This internal placement allows the dispenser to be concealed within the trash can's structure, maintaining a streamlined external appearance while providing easy access to liners through an opening in the rear wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning the dispenser in the cavity space, and the horizontal dimension by placing it against the rear wall. The opening in the rear wall provides access from the rear side, allowing users to retrieve liners without interfering with the front-facing streamlined appearance.
2Ease of operation
If an exterior protrusion is added to house the liner dispenser, then liners become easily accessible, but the trash can loses its streamlined appearance and cannot be placed flush against surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is nested within the existing cavity space of the trash can, eliminating the need for any exterior protrusion. The cavity space, which naturally exists between the outer shell and basin, is utilized to house the dispenser, maintaining the trash can's ability to be placed flush against surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Access to the dispenser is provided through the rear wall opening rather than requiring front or side access. This rearward positioning allows the dispenser to be concealed while still being accessible, maintaining the streamlined appearance from the front and allowing flush placement against walls or surfaces.
3Shape
If the liner dispenser is positioned low in the trash can, then it is concealed, but users have difficulty accessing the liners
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is positioned in the upper portion of the cavity space, near the top rear wall, which is still concealed from front view but easily accessible from the rear. This upper positioning allows users to access liners without bending down, improving ergonomics while maintaining concealment.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A receptacle assembly 1000 comprising a body 1200, a lid 1250, and a liner dispenser 1100 positioned in an interior space of the body, such as on or near the inside surface of a rear wall of the body. The liner dispenser has a first opening 1105 and a second opening 1125. The interior liner dispenser is configured to receive a package of liners from the interior space through the first opening and to dispense the liners (e.g., one at a time) into the interior space through the second opening. With the lid closed, the liner dispenser may be hidden from a user's view.