Split-Compartment Dishwasher Basket for Securing Baby Bottle Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Baby bottle and infant cup components tend to be dislodged and poorly cleaned in conventional dishwashers due to their small size and light weight, potentially causing damage to other dishes and the dishwasher itself.
Innovation Solution
A multi-compartmented dishwasher basket with a hinged split compartment design that provides stability and secure storage for these components, featuring independently or dependently moving sub-compartments to form a single compartment when closed, and additional features like straw ports and retention sites for secure positioning of straws and nipples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a conventional dishwasher rack or open utensil basket is used, then the footprint size is minimized, but the small and light baby bottle parts become dislodged and bounce around during washing cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The basket is divided into multiple compartments including a first compartment for larger items and a second compartment split into two sub-compartments for smaller parts. This segmentation allows small baby bottle parts to be contained in dedicated spaces with raised bottoms that prevent them from moving around, while maintaining an overall compact footprint that fits standard dishwashers.
2Reliability
If a multi-compartmented basket is provided to secure small components, then the stability and cleaning effectiveness improve, but the footprint size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second compartment is designed as a split compartment where two sub-compartments can be positioned to cover the open top end of the first compartment when closed. This nested arrangement allows the small parts compartments to serve dual purposes - containing small items and providing lids for the main compartment, thereby maximizing functionality within a minimized footprint.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the basket is designed with sufficient storage capacity for all bottle and cup components, then the versatility improves, but the footprint size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different compartments are designed with specific local characteristics suited to their intended contents. The first compartment has a larger open space for bigger items like bottle bodies, while the second compartment is divided into smaller sub-compartments with raised bottoms for small parts like caps and nipples. This localized optimization allows efficient storage of diverse items within a compact overall footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher basket for securing baby bottle and drinking cup components is disclosed. The basket includes multiple compartments, with at least one split compartment serving as a hinged lid for another compartment. The basket first compartment is defined by sidewalls and a bottom wall, and is open at a side opposite the bottom wall, while the split second compartment is attached to a sidewall of the first compartment and is defined by two sub-compartments capable of movement between an open and a closed position, which when either sub-compartment is in a closed position at least a partial cover to the open top end of the first compartment is formed. The two sub-compartments are open on only one side such that as they adjoin when both sub-compartments are in a closed position a single compartment is formed. The basket is stable when either or both sub-compartments is opened as well.