Pedal Bin Linkage and Baffle Sealing for Odor Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pedal bins disperse unpleasant odors when the lid is opened for waste disposal, causing user discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A pedal bin design featuring a linkage mechanism with toggle blocks and restoring members that controls baffle plates to seal the garbage bag during waste disposal, preventing odor dispersion and allowing easy bag replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the lid is opened for waste disposal, then waste can be thrown into the bin, but unpleasant odor will disperse from the bin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste disposal convenienceVSAvoidodor dispersion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the waste containment system into multiple segments: the lid for opening/closing, the baffle plate for sealing the garbage bag opening, and the garbage bag itself. During waste disposal, only the lid opens while the baffle plate remains closed to seal the bag opening, segmenting the opening action from the sealing function to prevent odor dispersion while allowing waste input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The baffle plate is pre-positioned to cover the garbage bag opening before waste disposal begins. When the lid opens, the baffle plate is already in place to prevent odor escape. The linkage mechanism ensures the baffle plate is preliminarily sealed, and only opens momentarily during the disposal process, then automatically returns to sealing position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the lid is kept closed to prevent odor dispersion, then odor containment is improved, but waste disposal becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor containmentVSAvoidwaste disposal ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic mechanisms that allow the system to transition between closed and open states. The lid can dynamically open for waste disposal while the baffle plate dynamically controls the bag opening seal. The linkage mechanism dynamically coordinates these movements, enabling the system to be closed during storage (odor containment) and open during disposal (ease of operation) without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The linkage mechanism enables self-service operation where stepping on the pedal automatically coordinates the lid opening and baffle plate movement. The system serves itself by automatically managing the sealing and opening actions without requiring manual lid handling, making waste disposal easy while maintaining odor containment through automated baffle plate control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-generated harmful factors

If a linkage mechanism with toggle blocks is used to control baffle plates, then odor sealing is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor sealingVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sealing function from the lid and assigns it to a separate baffle plate component. This separation allows the lid to focus on opening/closing while the baffle plate specializes in sealing the garbage bag opening. The linkage mechanism extracts the coordination function, automatically managing the relationship between lid position and baffle plate position without requiring complex integrated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The linkage mechanism acts as an intermediary between the lid and the baffle plate. Instead of directly connecting these components with a complex mechanism, the patent uses the pedal as an intermediary that independently controls both the lid opening and the baffle plate positioning. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system by using a single input (pedal) to coordinate multiple outputs through separate but synchronized pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Prevents odor dispersion by keeping the lid closed during waste disposal and facilitates convenient garbage bag replacement.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member is arranged in the blind hole, and a top of the elastic member is pressed against the bottom of the base

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the first restoring member is connected to the toggle block and the first connecting rod, the pedal is configured to drive the first connecting rod to move upward to cause the toggle block to contact the linkage mechanism and rotate, and after the toggle block is moved upward and separated from the linkage mechanism, the toggle block is reset by the first restoring member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic Recovery: Elastic Recovery

Implementation Method 3

the second restoring member is connected to one of the toggle rods and the positioning shell, the first connecting rod is moved downward to cause the toggle block to press downward the stop block to drive the toggle rods to rotate, and when the toggle block is moved downward and separated from the stop block, the toggle rods are reset by the second restoring member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic Recovery: Elastic Recovery

Data Source

PatentEP4578796B1Pedal bin
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 JIANGSU ZHONGHENG PET ARTICLES JOINT CO LTD
  • EP4578796B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4578796B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4578796B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a pedal bin, belonging to the technical field of waste containers. The pedal bin includes a base 1, a bin body 2, a garbage bag compartment 3, a lid 4, a pedal 5, a first connecting rod 6, a toggle block 7, a first restoring member 8, a first limiting portion 9, a linkage mechanism, and a baffle plate 10. The bin body is detachably connected to a top of the base. The garbage bag compartment is detachably connected to an opening at a top of the bin body. The lid is hingedly connected to a top of the garbage bag compartment. The pedal is rotatably arranged at a bottom of the base. A first end of the first connecting rod is hingedly connected to the pedal, and a second end of the first connecting rod is connected to the lid. The toggle block is rotatably arranged on a side surface of the first connecting rod. The linkage mechanism is arranged in an inner cavity of the garbage bag compartment and forms a clutch structure with the toggle block to control opening and closing of the baffle plate. The first limiting portion is arranged on the side surface of the first connecting rod and is pressed against a top of the toggle block. The first restoring member is connected to the toggle block and the first connecting rod. When a user throws waste to the pedal bin, unpleasant smell will not disperse from the garbage bag, thereby preventing the user's discomfort caused by unpleasant smell.