Vented Trash Container Manifold Air Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing trash containers with vent apertures or air conduits fail to effectively eliminate vacuum conditions between the liner and the container walls, leading to liner rupture and difficulty in placement, and often compromise the container's seamless structure or are complex to manufacture.

Innovation Solution

A vented trash container with a manifold of air channels, comprising vertical channels on the side walls, horizontal channels on the bottom, and a central air distributing mechanism, forming a network that ensures air distribution throughout the container, maintaining reliability even if individual channels are blocked, and is manufactured as a single, seamless unit using injection molding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If vent apertures or openings are built in the container to eliminate vacuum, then the vacuum condition is reduced, but the seamless structure is destroyed and smell leakage and insect entry occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliner placement and removalVSAvoidsmell emission and insect entry

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The container wall is designed with a porous structure containing multiple micro-vent channels that allow air passage while maintaining a seamless external appearance. The porous material enables air flow for vacuum elimination without creating visible openings that would allow smell leakage or insect entry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The venting function is distributed throughout the container wall via multiple micro-vent channels rather than concentrated at specific aperture locations. This local distribution of venting capability eliminates vacuum effectively while maintaining the seamless integrity of the container structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If vent apertures are built on the container wall, then air can enter to reduce vacuum, but the apertures can be easily blocked by the flexible liner

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair circulationVSAvoidvent aperture functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The porous wall structure provides numerous micro-vent channels distributed across the container surface. Even if some channels are blocked by the liner, the vast number of alternative pathways ensures continuous air circulation and vacuum elimination functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The venting system is segmented into multiple independent micro-vent channels distributed throughout the container wall. This segmentation ensures that blockage of individual channels does not compromise the overall venting functionality, as air can flow through alternative channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If local apertures are positioned to allow air ingress, then vacuum is reduced locally, but the vacuum condition cannot be eliminated throughout the entire container

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair ingressVSAvoidcomplete vacuum elimination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The container wall is designed with varying densities of micro-vent channels distributed throughout the entire surface area. This local quality variation ensures adequate air ingress at all locations, enabling complete vacuum elimination throughout the container rather than just at specific aperture points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The venting system transitions from localized point apertures to a distributed two-dimensional network of micro-vent channels across the container wall surface. This dimensional expansion ensures comprehensive air circulation and vacuum elimination throughout the entire container volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The manifold of air channels effectively eliminates vacuum conditions throughout the container, preventing liner rupture and easy placement, while maintaining a seamless structure and simplifying manufacturing.

Implementation Method 1

The manifold comprises a plurality of essentially vertical air channels on the at least one side wall, a plurality of essentially horizontal air channels on the bottom, and an air distributing means located essentially at the center of the bottom

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir distribution through manifold channels:

Data Source

PatentUS9027777B1Vented trash container with a manifold of air channels

Publication Date: 2015.05.12 STEIDINGER III JOHN H

AI summary

A vented trash container with a manifold of air channels which is capable of distributing air throughout the entire container. The vented trash container is capable of eliminating vacuum between walls of the container and a liner. The manifold in the container comprises a plurality of air channels and an air distributing means. The manifold forms a network of the air channels so as to provide air distribution throughout the entire container and enhance reliability of the air distribution. The vented trash container with the manifold can be cast form a single piece of a material to form an integrated seamless unit and easily manufactured by a single injection molding process.