Sponge Steriliser Venting and Compression for Safe Disinfectant Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sponges provide a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and fungi, especially when wet, and existing sterilization methods like microwave ovens pose risks of fire if not properly soaked.
Innovation Solution
A sterilizer unit with a container for holding disinfectant and a discharge unit that applies compressive force to absorbent bodies, allowing them to absorb and then dispense disinfectant, with a venting system to release air, facilitating the destruction of bacteria and fungi.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sponge is sterilized by soaking in clean water and subjecting it to electromagnetic waves in a microwave oven, then bacteria and fungi are killed, but the sponge could be set alight if not properly soaked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid container as an intermediary medium between the microwave radiation and the sponge. The liquid absorbs the microwave energy and transfers heat to the sponge through controlled contact, eliminating the direct microwave-sponge interaction that causes fire hazards while maintaining sterilization effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary soaking of the sponge in liquid before applying thermal energy. This pre-wetting step ensures the sponge is sufficiently saturated to prevent fire during the subsequent heating/sterilization phase, addressing the root cause of the fire hazard
2Ease of operation
If a sponge is allowed to remain wet between periods of use, then it maintains cleaning effectiveness, but it provides a favourable breeding ground for harmful bacteria or fungi
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic sterilization cycles where the sponge is alternately kept wet for cleaning use and subjected to sterilization treatment. The liquid container system enables repeated soaking and sterilization cycles, preventing continuous bacterial growth while maintaining cleaning readiness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent design allows the sponge to remain in a state of useful readiness by keeping it in contact with the liquid container system that continuously provides both cleaning liquid and periodic sterilization, eliminating the need to choose between wet storage risks and dry storage inconvenience
3Productivity
If an absorbent body is compressed to dispense absorbed liquid, then the disinfectant is effectively dispensed for reuse, but air trapped in the absorbent body must be vented
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid container is segmented into a soak position and a discharge position, with the absorbent body serving as a movable separator. This segmentation allows the system to handle liquid absorption and air venting as separate functional zones, simplifying the overall air management requirement
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
Effectively sterilizes absorbent bodies by ensuring disinfectant absorption and controlled dispensing, reducing the risk of bacterial and fungal growth while avoiding fire hazards.
Implementation Method 1
the compression compartment is located within the soak position of the container when the discharge unit is located in its release position, thereby allowing the absorbent body to absorb an amount of disinfectant
Implementation Method 2
the container includes a venting formation for in use allowing air, which is released by the absorbent body as it is caused to dispense its disinfectant, to vent to the atmosphere
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a steriliser unit (10) for sterilising an absorbent body (30), such as a sponge. The steriliser unit firstly comprises a container (12) for holding a disinfectant, the container providing a soak position (22) and a discharge position (26). The steriliser unit also includes a discharge unit (14) for cooperation with the container, the discharge unit defines a compression compartment (28) in which the absorbent body can be held. The discharge unit is further movable between a release position in which the absorbent body can be located within the compression compartment and a compression position in which the discharge unit will apply a compressive force on the absorbent body inside the compression compartment. In use the compression compartment can be located within the soak position of the container when the discharge unit is located in its release position, thereby allowing the absorbent body to absorb an amount of disinfectant. The discharge unit can also be moved to its compression position when the compression compartment is located in the discharge position of the container, such that the absorbent body is allowed to dispense the disinfectant which it had absorbed when it was located inside the soak position of the container.