Needle Disposal Container with Adjustable Insertion Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional needle disposal containers are designed to handle needle units of a specific diameter, making it impossible to dispose of needle units with different diameters using the same container, which complicates the disposal process and increases manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A needle disposal container with a single insertion opening that accommodates needle units of different diameters by using first and second rotation-preventers with different protrusion diameters, allowing both larger and smaller needle hubs to be securely inserted and prevented from rotating during detachment from the syringe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a uniform diameter dropping opening is used in the conventional needle disposal container, then the container structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but it can only accommodate needle units of a particular diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a movable member that can shift between positions to dynamically adjust the diameter of the dropping opening. This allows the same container to accommodate different needle unit diameters without requiring multiple fixed openings, thus improving adaptability while maintaining relatively simple structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the dropping opening diameter through the movable member mechanism. By adjusting the position of the movable member, the opening diameter can be modified to match different needle unit sizes, enabling universal compatibility across various syringe types
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dropping openings with different diameters are formed to accommodate different needle units, then all needle unit sizes can be disposed, but the container body and lid become larger and configuration becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing multiple fixed openings of different sizes, the patent uses a single adjustable opening controlled by a movable member. This dynamic approach allows the container to adapt to different needle diameters without requiring multiple openings, thereby avoiding the volume increase that would result from creating separate dedicated openings for each needle size
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dropping openings with different diameters are formed, then all needle unit sizes can be disposed, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The movable member mechanism allows a single opening to serve multiple functions for different needle sizes. This eliminates the need to manufacture multiple separate openings, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while achieving universal compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The single adjustable dropping opening serves as a universal interface for all needle unit sizes. By making the opening adaptable rather than creating multiple specialized openings, the design achieves multi-functionality with simpler, more cost-effective manufacturing
4Ease of manufacture
If a single insertion opening is used for all needle diameters, then manufacturing is simple, but needle units with different diameters cannot be securely inserted and prevented from rotating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces rotation-preventers with specific protrusion patterns that interact with corresponding recesses on the needle hub. These localized engagement features provide reliable rotation prevention for different needle sizes while maintaining the simplicity of the overall single-opening structure
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation-preventers utilize asymmetric protrusion and recess geometries that engage with the needle hub features. This asymmetric interaction ensures secure anti-rotation capability for various needle diameters while keeping the insertion opening itself simple and easy to manufacture
Data Source
AI summary
A needle disposal container includes a container body and a covering attached to the container body. The covering includes a lid body that covers the open top of the container body and a movable member movable relative to the lid body between a hold position and a retract position. The lid body has a first wall having a first surface, and the movable member has a second wall having a second surface. The first and second surfaces together form a cylindrical surface that defines an insertion opening. The cylindrical surface has a first rotation-preventer that prevents rotation of a first needle unit inserted into the insertion opening and a second rotation-preventer that prevents rotation of a second needle unit inserted into the insertion opening. The second needle unit has a second needle hub with a smaller diameter than a diameter of a first needle hub of the first needle unit.