Sink Filter with Origami Folds for Adhesive-Free Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sink liners require an adhesive layer to maintain position, which can leave residue and be damaged during storage, also leading to environmental waste and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
A filter design for a basket, basin, or sink that includes a peripheral region with panels extending from a central collection region, featuring origami-type folds for easy deployment and storage, eliminating the need for an adhesive layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If an adhesive layer is added to the bottom rim of the filter to maintain its position in the sink, then the filter's stability is improved, but the complexity of manufacture and environmental waste increase due to adhesive residue and damaged adhesive during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is completely removed from the filter design. Instead of using adhesive on the bottom rim, the patent employs a mechanical retention system where the rim's geometry (rounded cross-section, specific dimensions) and the sink's geometry work together to hold the filter in place through friction and physical fit, eliminating the need for adhesive materials and their associated manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is designed as a disposable product without adhesive, accepting that it will be discarded after use. The rim is designed to be replaced rather than cleaned and reused, eliminating the need for durable adhesive bonding and simplifying both manufacturing and end-of-life disposal
2Stability of the object's composition
If an adhesive layer is used to secure the filter, then the filter remains in position during use, but harmful factors increase due to adhesive residue on the sink surface and potential contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is completely removed from the system, eliminating the source of harmful residue. The filter rim interacts with the sink surface through direct mechanical contact only, ensuring no chemical contaminants are transferred to the sink or surrounding environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of adhesive residue into a benefit by using the rim's geometric features (rounded shape, specific dimensions) to create beneficial friction and mechanical retention without chemical adhesion, achieving stability through purely physical means that leave no harmful residue
3Volume of moving object
If the filter is designed with a folded and crimped structure to minimize packaging size, then shipping cost is reduced, but the filtering surface area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is designed to be folded into a compact nested structure for shipping and storage, with the rim and filtering surface folded into concentric layers. The rounded rim can be folded into a tight coil, and the filtering material is folded to nest within the rim structure, minimizing packaged volume while maintaining full filtering surface area when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The filter transitions from a static compact folded state during shipping to a dynamic expanded state during use. The rim can be unfolded from a tight coil into a large circular shape, and the filtering material can be expanded from a folded packet into a full surface area configuration, allowing the same object to occupy different volumes at different stages of its lifecycle
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
The filter effectively collects debris without adhesive residue, reduces environmental waste, and lowers production costs by eliminating the need for adhesive layers and simplifying storage and deployment.
Implementation Method 1
a filter for a basket, basin, or sink can include a peripheral region, a plurality of panels, and a central collection region, the peripheral region having an upper surface and a lower surface, and the plurality of panels extending from the central collection region towards the peripheral region
Data Source
AI summary
Improvements to a liquid permeable barrier or filter for a basket, basin, or sink. An expandable filter for a basket, basin, or sink, the filter including a filter material shaped and formed to having a peripheral region, a plurality of panels, and a central collection region, the peripheral region having an upper surface and a lower surface, and the plurality of panels extending from the central collection region towards the peripheral region; and one or more folds in the filter, each of the one or more folds permitting each of the plurality of panels to overlap an adjacent portion of the filter, wherein the filter can be unfolded from a folded orientation to a partially unfolded orientation.