Disposable Plastic Filter Top Assembly for Animal Cages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter top assemblies for animal cages do not effectively protect filter paper while being easy to clean, and they often require complex and costly metal components that are heavy and difficult to handle.
Innovation Solution
A filter top assembly comprising a bonnet made of lightweight, durable plastic with air passages and internal ribs to suspend the filter away from the bonnet, combined with a retainer that protects the filter and enhances airflow, eliminating the need for metal components and simplifying manufacturing and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal components are used in the filter top assembly, then structural integrity is improved, but weight increases and ease of handling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces permanent metal components with disposable plastic components that can be easily discarded and replaced. The filter top assembly is designed as a disposable unit that maintains structural integrity during use but can be easily removed and replaced without heavy tools or complex assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, fundamentally altering the weight and structural properties. This material substitution allows the assembly to maintain sufficient structural integrity for its intended lifespan while dramatically reducing weight for easier handling.
2Reliability
If complex metal components are used, then protection for filter paper is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable plastic components instead of expensive metal parts. The retainer and filter top are designed as inexpensive plastic elements that provide adequate protection for the filter paper during its service life, eliminating the need for costly metal manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, which fundamentally reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining sufficient protective function. Plastic components can be manufactured through injection molding or similar processes that are significantly cheaper than metal fabrication.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If metal components are used, then durability is improved, but ease of cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the filter top assembly as a disposable unit that does not require cleaning. The plastic components are designed for single-use or limited-use applications where replacement is simpler and more cost-effective than cleaning and sterilization procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material from metal to plastic, which alters the cleaning requirements. Plastic surfaces are generally easier to clean and sterilize compared to metal, and the disposable nature of the components eliminates the need for repeated cleaning cycles.
4Weight of moving object
If lightweight plastic materials are used, then ease of handling is improved, but structural integrity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses plastic materials that, while lighter than metal, are engineered to provide sufficient structural integrity for the application. The design may incorporate reinforcement features, optimized geometry, or composite plastic structures that maintain strength-to-weight ratio appropriate for the filter top assembly's functional requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A filter top assembly (20) for a cage, wherein the assembly (20) includes a bonnet (100) having a perforated top wall to protect filter paper (200) placed above the top wall. The perforations (120) may be small enough to prevent an animal from getting a purchase position and spaced apart sufficiently to prevent the animal from biting the spacing between the perforations (120). The bonnet (100) may also include one or more elevated ribs (142,144) to retain the filter paper (200) suspended above the bonnet.