Disposable Lint Patch With Grip Tab for Portable Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lint removal devices are bulky, costly, and prone to damage, making them difficult to carry and use, especially for individuals with varying hand sizes or strengths, and often require components that are susceptible to wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
A compact, disposable lint patch with a non-adhesive tab for easy handling and reusability, allowing users to carry multiple units and utilize the adhesive surface without inserting their hands, thus reducing production costs and increasing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional lint rollers, lint mitts, or lint brushes are used, then lint removal function is achieved, but the devices are bulky and take up large amounts of space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable lint patch made of adhesive material that is used once and then discarded. This eliminates the need for bulky, reusable devices with multiple components. The disposable nature allows the patch to be made extremely thin and compact, fitting easily into pockets or small containers, directly resolving the contradiction between functionality and device volume.
2Ease of operation
If lint mitts or gloves are used, then lint removal is achieved, but the user must insert their hand which increases production costs and likelihood of tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adhesive lint-capturing surface from the user's hand and places it on a separate, durable substrate with a tab. The user interacts only with the robust tab portion, never inserting their hand into the device. This separation eliminates the structural weaknesses in lint mitts where the material must accommodate hand insertion and movement, thereby improving reliability and reducing tearing while maintaining ease of operation.
3Volume of moving object
If thin tabs are used for grasping disposable lint removers, then portability is improved, but the tabs are susceptible to breakage under various hand sizes and strengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the tab substantially thicker and more robust than the adhesive portion of the patch. The tab is specifically engineered with increased material density and structural reinforcement at the grasping area, while the rest of the patch remains thin and disposable. This localized structural differentiation allows the tab to withstand various hand sizes and strengths without breaking, while the overall device remains compact and portable.
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 lint patch is highly portable, durable, and user-friendly, enabling effective lint removal without hand size or strength limitations, while being inexpensive to produce and allowing for customizable imprinting for marketing opportunities.
Implementation Method 1
a generally planar sheet having a face sheet and a tab extending from the face sheet. The tab is free of adhesive material.
Data Source
AI summary
A lint removal apparatus containing a tabbed end or ends on any side so a user to grip and hold the apparatus. One side of the apparatus contains an adhesive side that is protected by a backing. The backing must be removed by the user prior to using the apparatus. Once the backing is removed, a small portion of the backing will remain so that user can easily grip the apparatus. While gripping the apparatus, the user may remove lint by pressing the exposed adhesive side of the apparatus against the desired area containing lint or other particles to be removed. The apparatus is a small, durable, portable, economic, practical and be used by all individuals regardless of physical size.