Raised Floor Waste Container Structure for Sidewalk Clearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Waste collection containers for voluntary contribution often obstruct pedestrian pathways and can be inadvertently moved by motorists, posing challenges for public road safety and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A waste collection structure with a raised floor that extends the sidewalk, allowing for unobstructed pedestrian passage and preventing motorist interference, featuring a movable protective wall and adjustable height components for ergonomic placement and easy cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the container is positioned on the sidewalk, then it is easily accessible for pedestrians, but it occupies a large volume on the sidewalk and hinders the movement of pedestrians

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility for pedestriansVSAvoidspace occupied on sidewalk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The container structure is designed to extend into the roadway dimension rather than occupying sidewalk space. The raised floor structure creates a platform that projects over the roadway, allowing the container to be positioned in the vertical and horizontal space above the road surface without encroaching on the sidewalk area, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and pedestrian space occupation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

A raised floor structure acts as an intermediary element between the sidewalk and the container. This floor extension provides a stable base for the container while visually and physically connecting to the sidewalk, maintaining pedestrian accessibility without requiring the container to sit directly on the sidewalk surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If the container is positioned on the roadway, then it does not occupy space on the sidewalk, but a motorist can move the container to appropriate the space for parking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesidewalk space availabilityVSAvoidposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The container is anchored to the roadway surface using heavy-duty anchoring mechanisms that provide counteracting force against the weight and force of moving vehicles. This anchoring system prevents the container from being displaced by motorists attempting to park, ensuring position stability while maintaining roadway placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The container incorporates protective curved or sloped surfaces on its lower portions that make it difficult for vehicles to gain purchase and move the container. These geometric features, combined with anchoring, prevent displacement while maintaining the container's position on the roadway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If the container is installed on the roadway to extend the sidewalk, then a motorist cannot easily move it, but the structure requires complex anchoring and installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition stabilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The container structure is divided into modular segments including the raised floor, container body, and anchoring components. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual parts and easier on-site assembly, reducing overall installation complexity while maintaining position stability through the distributed anchoring system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The container incorporates self-aligning and self-securing features in its anchoring system that reduce the need for complex installation procedures. The design allows for straightforward installation by standard construction crews without requiring specialized equipment or procedures, balancing position stability with ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If the raised floor extends the sidewalk over the roadway, then cleaning the roadway becomes easier, but the floor structure requires additional maintenance access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance access requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The raised floor incorporates movable or removable sections that can be dynamically adjusted to provide maintenance access when needed. These dynamic elements allow the floor to maintain its extended sidewalk function for cleaning purposes while providing controlled access points for maintenance activities, balancing productivity with manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The floor structure has different local properties: most areas are fixed and provide stable sidewalk extension for cleaning, while specific localized sections have movable or accessible features for maintenance. This differentiation of local qualities allows the overall structure to achieve high cleaning efficiency while minimizing maintenance complexity through targeted access points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3170770B1Structure for receiving a container for a parking space
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 SULO FRANCE
  • EP3170770B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3170770B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3170770B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The receiving structure (10) for at least one container (100) for the voluntary drop-off of waste includes a front (13) with at least one filling opening (14). The front (13) extends to the base of the structure (10). The structure (10) includes a raised floor (200, 300, 400) located at the base of the front (13), the floor (200, 300, 400) comprising at least a main part (202) and an end portion (204) capable of occupying two positions: a first position in which the main part (202) and the end portion (204) form a plane, and a second position in which the main part (202) and the end portion (204) form a non-flat angle, preferably a right angle.