Waste Container Stabilization with Suction Cups and Pressure Vents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waste containers face issues with inserting and removing trash bags due to pressurized air pockets and vacuums, which make it difficult to add waste and remove full bags without the container shifting.
Innovation Solution
A waste container stabilization system featuring a base with suction cups that attach to the floor using negative fluid pressure, along with vents to manage air pressure during bag insertion and removal, ensuring stability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a trash bag is inserted into the container and overlapped over the upper edge, then the trash bag forms a seal with the upper edge, but a pressurized air pocket is created around the trash bag preventing waste insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful pressurized air pocket from the system by providing vent openings in the container walls that allow the pressurized air to escape to the exterior environment, thereby eliminating the barrier that prevented waste insertion while maintaining the seal function
Solution Approach 2:
The vent openings act as an intermediary pathway between the interior cavity and exterior environment, allowing controlled air flow to balance pressure differences without compromising the seal between the trash bag and upper edge
2Ease of operation
If a trash bag is removed from the waste container, then the trash bag can be taken out, but a vacuum is created around the side of the trash bag making removal extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful vacuum condition by providing vent openings that allow exterior air to enter the interior cavity, equalizing the pressure and eliminating the vacuum force that was holding the trash bag against the container walls
Solution Approach 2:
The vent openings serve as an intermediary air passage that mediates the pressure difference between the interior cavity and exterior environment during trash bag removal, allowing smooth air flow to prevent vacuum formation
3Ease of operation
If a trash bag full of waste material is removed from the container, then the trash bag can be taken out, but the container may move or lift upwardly with the trash bag
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by using suction cups that generate negative gauge pressure to create a downward holding force on the container base, counteracting the upward lifting force generated when removing a full trash bag
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by employing suction cups that utilize negative gauge pressure (vacuum effect) to adhere the container base to the support surface, providing a mechanical means to prevent unwanted container movement during trash bag removal
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 system allows for effortless insertion and removal of trash bags by preventing air pocket formation and container movement, enhancing user convenience and stability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one suction cup removably attachable to a floor using negative fluid pressure
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum is created around the side of the trash bag during removal making it extremely difficult to remove the trash bag
Data Source
AI summary
A waste container stabilization system for stabilizing a waste container for easy insertion and removal of trash bags. The waste container stabilization system generally includes a container having a base, at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the base and an interior cavity formed by the base and the at least one sidewall, wherein the at least one sidewall has an upper edge surrounding an upper opening within the container, and wherein the at least one sidewall, and at least one suction cup attached to a bottom surface of the base, wherein the at least one suction cup is removably attachable to an upper surface of a floor using negative fluid pressure.