Sharps Container Guide Mechanism for Parallel Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sharps containers face limited storage capacity due to random and disorganized accumulation of elongated sharps, leading to significant void spaces that reduce the container's efficiency and require frequent emptying or replacement.

Innovation Solution

The development of sharps collection containers with features such as openings for vertical orientation, guide mechanisms, carriers, ramps, and deflector surfaces that reorient sharps into a parallel arrangement upon insertion, ensuring they accumulate in a more consolidated manner within the container.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If sharps are dropped into a container without guidance, then the container is simple in structure, but the sharps accumulate in a random and disorganized manner creating large void spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer structureVSAvoidstorage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The container includes guide structures (ramps, deflectors, or platforms) that are pre-positioned to automatically reorient sharps as they enter the container. These guide elements are arranged to intercept sharps in vertical orientation and redirect them into horizontal orientation, ensuring Sharps accumulate in a consolidated parallel arrangement without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Guide elements such as ramps, deflectors, or platforms serve as intermediary structures between the container opening and the storage interior. These intermediaries intercept sharps during their entry path and transform their orientation from vertical to horizontal, mediating the transition that enables compact accumulation while maintaining container simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If sharps accumulate in a random arrangement, then the container structure is simple, but void spaces occupy significant volume reducing storage efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer structureVSAvoideffective storage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Guide structures are pre-positioned within the container to automatically reorient sharps as they enter. The ramps, deflectors, or platforms are arranged to intercept sharps and redirect them into a horizontal orientation before they reach the storage area, ensuring compact accumulation and maximizing effective storage volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Guide elements serve as intermediary structures that intercept sharps during their entry path and transform their orientation. These intermediaries ensure Sharps are reoriented from vertical to horizontal position, eliminating void spaces and maximizing the container's effective storage volume without increasing its physical size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If guide mechanisms are added to reorient sharps, then storage capacity increases, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidcontainer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Guide structures (ramps, deflectors, or platforms) are pre-positioned to automatically reorient sharps as they enter the container. These guide elements are arranged to intercept sharps in vertical orientation and redirect them into horizontal orientation, ensuring Sharps accumulate in a consolidated parallel arrangement without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If sharps are not reoriented, then the container is easier to manufacture, but the frequency of emptying or replacement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer manufacturingVSAvoidcontainer utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7789230B2Method and apparatus for collecting sharps

Publication Date: 2010.09.07 CARDINAL HEALTH IRELAND UNLIMITED CO

AI summary

A container for collecting sharps includes an opening adapted to receive sharps in a substantially vertical orientation, and an interior region for storing sharps received through the opening. The container includes a means for reorienting the sharps into an arrangement in which the sharps lie substantially parallel to one another within the interior region of the container. A method for configuring a sharps collection container includes the step of positioning a contoured surface of a guide element beneath an opening of the container to reorient sharps that are deposited through the opening into an arrangement in which the sharps are stored substantially parallel to one another in the container.