Spring-Biased Toilet Brush Canister With Auto-Opening Walls

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing canisters for housing toilet brushes or plungers often fail to close completely, lack a mechanism to retain the open position, and require extra effort to insert or remove tools, making them inconvenient and potentially unhygienic due to accidental closure.

Innovation Solution

A canister design featuring a base, moveable walls, a platform biased by a spring, and an actuator that uses a flange and pivot member to pivot the walls between open and closed positions, allowing the tool to be easily inserted or removed without manual operation of the walls, and maintaining the open position until the tool is placed on the platform.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If overlapping base members are used to close the canister, then the walls move to the closed position, but the canister cannot be locked or maintained in the open position and may close accidentally

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic openingVSAvoidmaintaining open position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring mechanism automatically opens the canister walls by itself when the tool is removed from the platform, without requiring any manual intervention. The spring stores energy when the walls are closed and releases it to automatically return the walls to the open position, making the system self-servicing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The spring is pre-loaded or pre-compressed when the walls are in the closed position, storing potential energy in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when the tool is removed, the stored energy immediately acts to open the walls, preventing accidental closure and maintaining the open position reliably.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If the canister closes automatically when the tool is placed, then the tool is enclosed, but extra effort is required to manually open the walls for tool insertion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic closingVSAvoidmanual opening effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spring mechanism performs the opening action automatically by itself when the tool is removed, eliminating the need for manual intervention to open the canister. The system serves itself by using the removal of the tool as the trigger to release the stored spring energy and open the walls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring manual force to open the canister against the closing force, the design inverts the approach by using a pre-loaded spring to provide the opening force. The natural tendency of the spring to return to its uncompressed state provides the automated opening action, reversing the conventional approach where manual effort overcomes a closing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If the walls are touched manually to open the canister, then the walls can be spread apart, but the canister walls may be contaminated by user's hand

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual openingVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spring mechanism automatically opens the canister walls without requiring any contact from the user's hands. The system uses the removal of the tool as a trigger and the stored spring energy to perform the opening action autonomously, eliminating the contamination risk associated with manual handling of the canister walls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If the canister is designed to close completely, then the tool is enclosed securely, but gaps may appear between the edges of the walls preventing complete closure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure enclosureVSAvoidwall alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spring acts as a counterbalancing force that applies continuous pressure to keep the canister walls firmly in the closed position. This counteracting force compensates for any manufacturing tolerances or misalignments, ensuring that the walls remain tightly closed and securely enclose the tool despite potential gaps from imprecise manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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

Ensures the canister opens automatically when the tool is removed, preventing accidental closure and allowing quick reinsertion without manual operation, enhancing hygiene and user convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a platform biased by a spring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a bias member mounted under the platform, wherein the bias member is a spring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7712609B2Spring biased canister for toilet brush or plunger

Publication Date: 2010.05.11 HELEN OF TROY LTD

AI summary

A canister for housing a tool such as a toilet brush or plunger and the canister has a pair of walls which pivot between an open and closed position via actuation of a platform which moves vertically within the canister upon receipt or removal of the tool therefrom. An actuator is provided to actuate the walls and a bias member may retain the walls in an open position when the tool is removed from the canister.