Polyethylene Receptacle Lid Hinge Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Trash receptacles at beaches, made of polyethylene or hardened plastic without metal hardware, often lack lids or have lids that corrode due to environmental exposure, leading to unsanitary conditions and wildlife access to trash.
Innovation Solution
A molded receptacle design featuring a lid that couples to the container via integrally formed polyethylene knuckles and hinge components, eliminating the need for metal hardware and ensuring the lid cannot open beyond a predetermined angle, promoting automatic closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal hardware is used to attach lids to trash receptacles, then the lid can be securely attached and guided, but the metal hardware corrodes due to environmental exposure, reducing the lifespan of the receptacle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes metal hardware from the lid attachment system entirely. Instead of using metal hinges, pins, or fasteners, the invention uses integrally molded polyethylene knuckles and hinge components that are corrosion-resistant and eliminate the reliability issues associated with metal corrosion in beach environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material construction by integrating multiple polyethylene components (knuckles, hinge components, lid, and receptacle body) into a unified corrosion-resistant system. This homogeneous material approach ensures all parts resist environmental degradation equally, extending the overall receptacle lifespan.
2Ease of operation
If lids are made rotatable without restriction, then the lid can be easily opened and closed, but users may not close the lid properly, allowing wildlife access to trash
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a preliminary anti-action by designing the hinge component with a stop feature that automatically limits the lid's rotation and ensures it returns to a closed position. This pre-built mechanical constraint prevents users from leaving the lid accidentally open, countering the potential harmful effect before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic lid system that can rotate freely for opening but automatically returns to and stops at a closed position through the hinge mechanism. This dynamic behavior allows easy operation while ensuring proper closure, combining ease of use with protective function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If lids are attached to trash receptacles, then wildlife access to trash is prevented, but the added components increase device complexity and potential points of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lid and receptacle body into an integrated assembly through integral molding of the polyethylene components. The knuckles and hinge components are formed as single pieces with the lid and receptacle, reducing the number of separate parts and assembly steps while maintaining the protective function against wildlife access.
Data Source
AI summary
A receptacle comprising a container and a lid is disclosed. The container includes one or more walls and a plurality of gussets extending from the container. The gussets include a first gusset having a cavity facing away from a second gusset. The lid includes a plurality of hinge components, namely a first hinge component including a first pin. The lid is pivotally coupled to the container by inserting the first pin of the first hinge component into the cavity of the first gusset and using a second pin to rotationally couple the second hinge component to the second gusset. A first protrusion, extending from the first hinge component, is configured to contact the first gusset and restrict opening of the lid.