Universal Trash Can Spacer Preventing Wall Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flip-top trash cans often damage walls due to the forceful opening of their lids, which can scrape or dent the paint, and positioning issues lead to repeated contact with the wall, causing further damage.
Innovation Solution
A universal trash can spacer made of rigid material, designed to fit between the trash can and the wall, maintaining a safe distance to prevent the lid from hitting the wall, accommodating various can shapes and sizes with adjustable dimensions and features like double-sided tape for secure placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the trash can is positioned flush against the wall, then it saves space and is easy to position, but the lid strikes the wall causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spacer as an intermediary element positioned between the trash can and the wall. This spacer maintains a predetermined distance that prevents the lid from striking the wall while allowing the can to remain in a space-efficient position. The spacer acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between space utilization and wall protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer is installed in advance on the wall before positioning the trash can. This preliminary action establishes the correct positioning and prevents wall damage before any lid opening operations occur. The spacer is pre-positioned to ensure the can is placed at the correct distance from the wall.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the trash can is positioned at a distance from the wall to prevent damage, then wall damage is reduced, but the can shifts back to contact the wall during use
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer serves as a stable intermediary that prevents the can from shifting toward the wall. By providing a fixed physical barrier at the correct distance, the spacer maintains position stability while preventing wall contact, eliminating the need to rely on user discipline to maintain proper spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer provides continuous physical feedback to the user through its presence as a visible and tactile element. This feedback mechanism reminds users to respect the designated space and prevents accidental placement of the can in incorrect positions, thereby maintaining position stability throughout use.
3Ease of operation
If the lid is opened with force for convenient operation, then access to trash is improved, but the lid strikes the wall with considerable force
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer acts as a buffer that absorbs and distributes the impact force when the lid strikes the wall area. By positioning the can at a distance determined by the spacer thickness, the lid's arc of motion is limited, reducing impact force while still allowing sufficient opening force for convenient operation.
4Ease of manufacture
If paint repairs are made to match older paint, then cosmetic appearance is improved, but the repairs remain highly visible
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer prevents wall damage before it occurs, eliminating the need for any paint repairs. By maintaining a predetermined distance between the can and wall, the spacer preemptively protects the wall from lid impacts, avoiding the creation of visible repairs and maintaining the wall's original appearance.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a universal trash can spacer, a rigid spacer of particular shape designed to rest on the floor between a flip-top trash can and the wall of a building, in order to keep the can away from the wall and prevent the open lid of the can from hitting the wall and causing damage to the wall or can lid. Since flip-top trash cans come in many sizes and shapes (square, rectangular round, oval, etc.), the spacer device may be able to accommodate any and all such cans.