Replaceable Pedicure Bowl Liner With Back-Pressure Drain Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pedicure basins with liners face challenges in complete drainage due to the blockage of the drain opening, leading to potential contamination and difficulties in temperature adjustments, as the liner must be punctured or the water poured out, which is inefficient and poses sanitation risks.
Innovation Solution
A container design with a sealing member in the discharge duct that creates back pressure to prevent liner rupture, allowing for controlled release of pressure to facilitate drainage by rupturing the liner at the drain opening, enabling easy emptying and replacement of the liner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a liner is applied over the pedicure basin to prevent contamination, then hygiene is improved, but the drain opening is blocked preventing complete drainage
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the containment function (liner) from the drainage function (drain opening) by allowing the liner to be segmented or ruptured at specific locations. The liner covers the drain opening during use to prevent contamination, then can be ruptured to allow drainage without removing the entire liner system.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner is designed as a disposable component that can be easily replaced. After use, the liner is ruptured to drain water, then the entire liner is discarded and replaced with a fresh one for the next client, eliminating the need for thorough cleaning and sanitization of the basin.
2Ease of operation
If the liner is punctured to drain water, then drainage is enabled, but the liner integrity is compromised and manual intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the drainage function automatically through a foot-actuated pedal mechanism. The pedal is connected to a rupture disc or cutting mechanism that automatically punctures or cuts the liner at the drain opening when activated, eliminating the need for manual puncturing by the technician.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual action of puncturing the liner is replaced by a mechanical actuation system. The foot pedal provides mechanical force to activate the rupture mechanism, substituting the manual hand-action with a more convenient foot-based mechanical system.
3Temperature
If water is poured out manually to adjust temperature, then temperature control is achieved, but time and effort are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows for preliminary draining of water before temperature adjustment is needed. The drain opening can be activated to remove excess water in advance, and the liner can be resealed or replaced to maintain the basin for temperature adjustment without requiring manual pouring during the procedure.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the drain is blocked by the liner, then contamination is prevented, but complete emptying of the basin becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static blocked drain to a dynamic drainage system. The liner coverage over the drain opening is changed from a permanent blockage to a controllable state that can be ruptured or opened when drainage is needed, allowing complete emptying while maintaining contamination prevention during use.
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
This design allows for efficient drainage and sanitation of the pedicure basin, reducing the risk of contamination and enabling easy temperature adjustments by ensuring complete water removal without manual puncturing or pouring, thus improving hygiene and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
air flow through the duct from the discharge opening is prevented so as to form a back pressure underneath the liner to counter the downward pressure on the liner from the liquid
Implementation Method 2
liquid within the container applies downward pressure on the liner at the drain opening
Data Source
AI summary
A pedicure bowl has a bottom discharge drain opening communicating with a discharge duct and is arranged to receive a liner to ensure hygienic operation in the form of a thin flexible material applied over the inner surface to contain the liquid within the liner and to cover the drain opening. The drain opening is closed by the liner so that liquid within the container applies downward pressure on the liner at the drain opening and a sealing member is mounted in the duct downstream of the drain opening to prevent air flow so as to form a back pressure underneath the liner to prevent the downward pressure from rupturing the liner. The sealing member is operable to release the back pressure to cause the liner at the discharge opening to rupture.