Tapered Watering Can with Nested Spout for Compact Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Watering cans are bulky, inefficient to fill and use, and prone to losing or damaging spray attachments, leading to storage and operational challenges.

Innovation Solution

A compact, injection-molded watering can design with a tapered body and spout, featuring a detachable and adjustable spray mechanism, and a hose connector for efficient filling and use, allowing for close packing and easy storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If traditional watering can design is used, then the watering can can hold sufficient water capacity, but the storage space required becomes excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater capacityVSAvoidstorage space

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The spout assembly is designed to nest within the body of the watering can when not in use, allowing the spout to be stored inside the cylindrical body portion. This nesting mechanism significantly reduces the overall volume required for storage while maintaining full water capacity when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The watering can employs an asymmetric design where the spout extends at an angle from the body rather than a symmetric attachment. This asymmetric configuration allows the spout to be positioned optimally for pouring while minimizing the footprint during storage, enabling closer packing of multiple cans

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If detachable spray attachments are added, then spray pattern versatility is improved, but the risk of losing or damaging attachments increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespray pattern optionsVSAvoidattachment retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spray attachment is merged with the spout assembly as an integrated component rather than a separate detachable element. The spray mechanism is built into the spout structure, eliminating the risk of losing or damaging separate attachments while maintaining spray pattern versatility through adjustable nozzles within the integrated assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Volume of moving object

If the spout is made detachable for storage, then storage compactness is improved, but the complexity of attachment mechanisms increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage compactnessVSAvoidattachment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The watering can is segmented into two main portions: a cylindrical body and a separate spout assembly. This segmentation allows the spout to be detached for compact storage within the body while using simple attachment mechanisms rather than complex systems, balancing storage compactness with manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4282258A1Watering can

Publication Date: 2023.11.29 WESTLAND HORTICULTURE

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AI summary

A watering can 1 comprises a body portion 2 and a detachable spout portion 3, wherein the body portion 2 is tapered along at least a part of the length of the body portion 2 and wherein the watering can 1 is shaped to allow close packing of a plurality of similar watering cans 1.