40 Inventive Principles With Examples

This format for the 40 Inventive Principles and the accompanying examples was developed by Karen Tate and Ellen Domb for their class, Practical Innovation! which was the s"b#ect of the article $ow to $elp T%I& 'eginners ("cceed ) in the *pril, +,,iss"e of the T%I& .o"rnal! %eaders have permission to download single copies for personal st"dy! Principle +! (egmentation *! Divide an ob#ect into independent parts! o Replace mainframe computer by personal computers. Use a work breakdown structure for a large project. /a0e an ob#ect easy to disassemble! o Modular furniture

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Replace a large truck by a truck and trailer.

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o Quick disconnect joints in plumbing Increase the degree of fragmentation or segmentation! o Replace solid shades with Venetian blinds. o
Use powdered welding metal instead of foil or rod to get better penetration of the joint.

Principle 2. Taking out *! (eparate an interfering part or property from an ob#ect, or single o"t the only necessary part 2or property) of an ob#ect! o Locate a noisy compressor outside the building where compressed air is used.

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Use fiber optics or a light pipe to separate the hot light source from the location where light is needed. Use the sound of a barking dog, without the dog, as a burglar alarm.

Principle 3. Local qualit *! 1hange an ob#ect3s str"ct"re from "niform to non4"niform, change an external environment 2or external infl"ence) from "niform to non4"niform! o Use a temperature, density, or pressure gradient instead of constant temperature, density or pressure. /a0e each part of an ob#ect f"nction in conditions most s"itable for its operation! o Lunch bo with special compartments for hot and cold solid foods and for li!uids 2Part 1 contin"ed on the next page!) 1! /a0e each part of an ob#ect f"lfill a different and "sef"l f"nction! o "encil with eraser

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#ammer with nail puller Multi$function tool that scales fish, acts as a pliers, a wire stripper, a flat$blade screwdri%er, a "hillips screwdri%er, manicure set, etc.

Principle 4. !s mmetr *! *! 1hange the shape of an ob#ect from symmetrical to asymmetrical! o &symmetrical mi ing %essels or asymmetrical %anes in symmetrical %essels impro%e mi ing 'cement trucks, cake mi ers, blenders(. o "ut a flat spot on a cylindrical shaft to attach a knob securely. If an ob#ect is asymmetrical, increase its degree of asymmetry! o )hange from circular *$rings to o%al cross$section to speciali+ed shapes to impro%e sealing.

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Use astigmatic optics to merge colors.

Principle ". #erging *! 'ring closer together 2or merge) identical or similar ob#ects, assemble identical or similar parts to perform parallel operations! o "ersonal computers in a network

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-lectronic chips mounted on both sides of a circuit board or subassembly /a0e operations contig"o"s or parallel5 bring them together in time! o Link slats together in Venetian or %ertical blinds.

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,housands of microprocessors in a parallel processor computer Vanes in a %entilation system

Medical diagnostic instruments that analy+e multiple blood parameters simultaneously Mulching lawnmower

Principle $. %niversalit *! /a0e a part or ob#ect perform m"ltiple f"nctions5 eliminate the need for other parts! o #andle of a toothbrush contains toothpaste

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)hild.s car safety seat con%erts to a stroller Mulching lawnmower '/es, it demonstrates both "rinciples 0 and 1, Merging and Uni%ersality.( ,eam leader acts as recorder and timekeeper. ))2 ')harge coupled de%ice( with micro$lenses formed on the surface

Principle &. '(este) )oll' *! Place one ob#ect inside another5 place each ob#ect, in t"rn, inside the other! o Measuring cups or spoons "ortable audio system 'microphone fits inside transmitter, which fits inside amplifier case( /a0e one part pass thro"gh a cavity in the other! o - tending radio antenna

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Russian dolls

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- tending pointer 3oom lens 4eat belt retraction mechanism Retractable aircraft landing gear stow inside the fuselage 'also demonstrates "rinciple 50, 2ynamism(.

Principle *. !nti+,eight *! To compensate for the weight of an ob#ect, merge it with other ob#ects that provide lift! o 6nject foaming agent into a bundle of logs, to make it float better.

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o Use helium balloon to support ad%ertising signs. To compensate for the weight of an ob#ect, ma0e it interact with the environment 2e!g! "se aerodynamic, hydrodynamic, b"oyancy and other forces)! o &ircraft wing shape reduces air density abo%e the wing, increases density below wing, to create lift. ',his also demonstrates "rinciple 7, &symmetry.( o Vorte strips impro%e lift of aircraft wings. o
#ydrofoils lift ship out of the water to reduce drag.

Principle -. Preliminar anti+action *! If it will be necessary to do an action with both harmf"l and "sef"l effects, this action sho"ld be replaced with anti4 actions to control harmf"l effects! o 8uffer a solution to pre%ent harm from e tremes of p#. 1reate beforehand stresses in an ob#ect that will oppose 0nown "ndesirable wor0ing stresses later on! o "re$stress rebar before pouring concrete.

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Masking anything before harmful e posure9 Use a lead apron on parts of the body not being e posed to :$rays. Use masking tape to protect the part of an object not being painted

Principle .0. Preliminar action *! Perform, before it is needed, the re6"ired change of an ob#ect 2either f"lly or partially)! o "re$pasted wall paper

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o 4terili+e all instruments needed for a surgical procedure on a sealed tray. Pre4arrange ob#ects s"ch that they can come into action from the most convenient place and witho"t losing time for their delivery! o ;anban arrangements in a <ust$6n$,ime factory o
=le ible manufacturing cell

Principle ... /e0orehan) cushioning *! Prepare emergency means beforehand to compensate for the relatively low reliability of an ob#ect! o Magnetic strip on photographic film that directs the de%eloper to compensate for poor e posure

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8ack$up parachute &lternate air system for aircraft instruments

Principle .2. Equipotentialit

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In a potential field, limit position changes 2e!g! change operating conditions to eliminate the need to raise or lower ob#ects in a gravity field)! o 4pring loaded parts deli%ery system in a factory

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Locks in a channel between > bodies of water '"anama )anal( ?4killets? in an automobile plant that bring all tools to the right position 'also demonstrates "rinciple 5@, "reliminary &ction(

Principle .3. 1The other ,a roun)1 *! Invert the action2s) "sed to solve the problem 2e!g! instead of cooling an ob#ect, heat it)! o ,o loosen stuck parts, cool the inner part instead of heating the outer part.

8ring the mountain to Mohammed, instead of bringing Mohammed to the mountain.

2Part ' contin"ed on the next page!) '! /a0e movable parts 2or the external environment) fixed, and fixed parts movable)! o Rotate the part instead of the tool. ,readmill 'for walking or running in place( T"rn the ob#ect 2or process) 3"pside down3! o ,urn an assembly upside down to insert fasteners 'especially screws(.

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Mo%ing sidewalk with standing people

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-mpty grain from containers 'ship or railroad( by in%erting them.

Principle .4. 2pheroi)alit + 3urvature *! Instead of "sing rectilinear parts, s"rfaces, or forms, "se c"rvilinear ones5 move from flat s"rfaces to spherical ones5 from parts shaped as a c"be 2parallelepiped) to ball4shaped str"ct"res! o Use arches and domes for strength in architecture. 7se rollers, balls, spirals, domes! o 4piral gear 'Aautilus( produces continuous resistance for weight lifting.

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o 8all point and roller point pens for smooth ink distribution 8o from linear to rotary motion, "se centrif"gal forces! o "roduce linear motion of the cursor on the computer screen using a mouse or a trackball. o o
Replace wringing clothes to remo%e water with spinning clothes in a washing machine. Use spherical casters instead of cylindrical wheels to mo%e furniture.

Principle .". 4 namics *! *llow 2or design) the characteristics of an ob#ect, external environment, or process to change to be optimal or to find an optimal operating condition! o &djustable steering wheel 'or seat, or back support, or mirror position...( 2Part ' contin"ed on the next page!) '! 1! Divide an ob#ect into parts capable of movement relative to each other! o ,he ?butterfly? computer keyboard, 'also demonstrates "rinciple B, ?Aested doll?.( If an ob#ect 2or process) is rigid or inflexible, ma0e it movable or adaptive! o ,he fle ible boroscope for e amining engines

,he fle ible sigmoidoscope, for medical e amination

Principle .$. Partial or excessive actions *! If +00 percent of an ob#ect is hard to achieve "sing a given sol"tion method then, by "sing 3slightly less3 or 3slightly more3 of the same method, the problem may be considerably easier to solve! o *%er spray when painting, then remo%e e cess. '*r, use a stencil$$this is an application of "rinciple C, Local Quality and "rinciple D, "reliminary anti$action(. o =ill, then ?top off? when filling the gas tank of your car.

Principle .&. !nother )imension *! To move an ob#ect in two4 or three4dimensional space! o 6nfrared computer mouse mo%es in space, instead of on a surface, for presentations.

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o =i%e$a is cutting tool can be positioned where needed. 7se a m"lti4story arrangement of ob#ects instead of a single4story arrangement!

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-mployees ?disappear? from the customers in a theme park, descend into a tunnel, and walk to their ne t assignment, where they return to the surface and magically reappear. Tilt or re4orient the ob#ect, lay it on its side! o 2ump truck 7se 3another side3 of a given area! o 4tack microelectronic hybrid circuits to impro%e density.

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)assette with 1 )2.s to increase music time and %ariety -lectronic chips on both sides of a printed circuit board

Principle .*. #echanical vi5ration *! '! 1! D! E! 1a"se an ob#ect to oscillate or vibrate! o -lectric car%ing knife with %ibrating blades Increase its fre6"ency 2even "p to the "ltrasonic)! o 2istribute powder with %ibration. 7se an ob#ect3s resonant fre6"ency! o 2estroy gall stones or kidney stones using ultrasonic resonance. 7se pie9oelectric vibrators instead of mechanical ones! o Quart+ crystal oscillations dri%e high accuracy clocks. 7se combined "ltrasonic and electromagnetic field oscillations! o Mi ing alloys in an induction furnace

Principle .-. Perio)ic action *! Instead of contin"o"s action, "se periodic or p"lsating actions! o #itting something repeatedly with a hammer

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o Replace a continuous siren with a pulsed sound. If an action is already periodic, change the periodic magnit"de or fre6"ency! o Use =re!uency Modulation to con%ey information, instead of Morse code. o Replace a continuous siren with sound that changes amplitude and fre!uency. 7se pa"ses between imp"lses to perform a different action! o 6n cardio$pulmonary respiration ')"R( breathe after e%ery 0 chest compressions.

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Principle 20. 3ontinuit o0 use0ul action *! 1arry on wor0 contin"o"sly5 ma0e all prts of an ob#ect wor0 at f"ll load, all the time! o =lywheel 'or hydraulic system( stores energy when a %ehicle stops, so the motor can keep running at optimum power. o Run the bottleneck operations in a factory continuously, to reach the optimum pace. '=rom theory of constraints, or takt time operations( Eliminate all idle or intermittent actions or wor0! o "rint during the return of a printer carriage$$dot matri printer, daisy wheel printers, inkjet printers.

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Principle 2.. 2kipping *! 1ond"ct a process , or certain stages 2e!g! destr"ctible, harmf"l or ha9ardo"s operations) at high speed! o Use a high speed dentist.s drill to a%oid heating tissue.

)ut plastic faster than heat can propagate in the material, to a%oid deforming the shape.

Principle 22. '/lessing in )isguise' or 'Turn Lemons into Lemona)e' *! 7se harmf"l factors 2partic"larly, harmf"l effects of the environment or s"rro"ndings) to achieve a positive effect! o Use waste heat to generate electric power.

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o Recycle waste 'scrap( material from one process as raw materials for another. Eliminate the primary harmf"l action by adding it to another harmf"l action to resolve the problem! o &dd a buffering material to a corrosi%e solution. o
Use a helium$o ygen mi for di%ing, to eliminate both nitrogen narcosis and o ygen poisoning from air and other nitro mi es.

*mplify a harmf"l factor to s"ch a degree that it is no longer harmf"l!

Use a backfire to eliminate the fuel from a forest fire.

Principle 23. 6ee)5ack

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Introd"ce feedbac0 2referring bac0, cross4chec0ing) to improve a process or action! o &utomatic %olume control in audio circuits 4tatistical "rocess )ontrol '4")( $$ Measurements are used to decide when to modify a process. 'Aot all feedback systems are automatedE( o 8udgets $$Measurements are used to decide when to modify a process. If feedbac0 is already "sed, change its magnit"de or infl"ence! o )hange sensiti%ity of an autopilot when within 0 miles of an airport.

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4ignal from gyrocompass is used to control simple aircraft autopilots.

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)hange sensiti%ity of a thermostat when cooling %s. heating, since it uses energy less efficiently when cooling. )hange a management measure from budget %ariance to customer satisfaction.

Principle 24. 1Interme)iar 1 *! '! 7se an intermediary carrier article or intermediary process! o )arpenter.s nailset, used between the hammer and the nail /erge one ob#ect temporarily with another 2which can be easily removed)! o "ot holder to carry hot dishes to the table

Principle 2". 2el0+service *! /a0e an ob#ect serve itself by performing a"xiliary helpf"l f"nctions o & soda fountain pump that runs on the pressure of the carbon dio ide that is used to ?fi++? the drinks. ,his assures that drinks will not be flat, and eliminates the need for sensors. o #alogen lamps regenerate the filament during use$$e%aporated material is redeposited. ,o weld steel to aluminum, create an interface from alternating thin strips of the > materials. )old weld the surface into a single unit with steel on one face and copper on the other, then use normal welding techni!ues to attach the steel object to the interface, and the interface to the aluminum. ',his concept also has elements of "rinciple >7, 6ntermediary, and "rinciple 7, &symmetry.( 7se waste reso"rces, energy, or s"bstances! o Use heat from a process to generate electricity9 ?)o$generation?.

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Use animal waste as fertili+er. Use food and lawn waste to create compost.

Principle 2$. 3op ing *! Instead of an "navailable, expensive, fragile ob#ect, "se simpler and inexpensive copies! o Virtual reality %ia computer instead of an e pensi%e %acation

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o Listen to an audio tape instead of attending a seminar. %eplace an ob#ect, or process with optical copies! o 2o sur%eying from space photographs instead of on the ground. o o
Measure an object by measuring the photograph.

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Make sonograms to e%aluate the health of a fetus, instead of risking damage by direct testing. If visible optical copies are already "sed, move to infrared or "ltraviolet copies! o Make images in infrared to detect heat sources, such as diseases in crops, or intruders in a security system.

Principle 2&. 3heap short+living o57ects *! %eplace an inexpensive ob#ect with a m"ltiple of inexpensive ob#ects, comprising certain 6"alities 2s"ch as service life, for instance)! o Use disposable paper objects to a%oid the cost of cleaning and storing durable objects. "lastic cups in motels, disposable diapers, many kinds of medical supplies.

Principle 2* #echanics su5stitution *! %eplace a mechanical means with a sensory 2optical, aco"stic, taste or smell) means! o Replace a physical fence to confine a dog or cat with an acoustic ?fence? 'signal audible to the animal(. Use a bad smelling compound in natural gas to alert users to leakage, instead of a mechanical or electrical sensor. 7se electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields to interact with the ob#ect! o ,o mi > powders, electrostatically charge one positi%e and the other negati%e. -ither use fields to direct them, or mi them mechanically and let their ac!uired fields cause the grains of powder to pair up. 1hange from static to movable fields, from "nstr"ct"red fields to those having str"ct"re! o -arly communications used omnidirectional broadcasting. Fe now use antennas with %ery detailed structure of the pattern of radiation.

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7se fields in con#"nction with field4activated 2e!g! ferromagnetic) particles! o #eat a substance containing ferromagnetic material by using %arying magnetic field. Fhen the temperature e ceeds the )urie point, the material becomes paramagnetic, and no longer absorbs heat.

Principle 2-. Pneumatics an) h )raulics *! 7se gas and li6"id parts of an ob#ect instead of solid parts 2e!g! inflatable, filled with li6"ids, air c"shion, hydrostatic, hydro4reactive)! o )omfortable shoe sole inserts filled with gel

4tore energy from decelerating a %ehicle in a hydraulic system, then use the stored energy to accelerate later.

Principle 30. 6lexi5le shells an) thin 0ilms *! '! 7se flexible shells and thin films instead of three dimensional str"ct"res o Use inflatable 'thin film( structures as winter co%ers on tennis courts. Isolate the ob#ect from the external environment "sing flexible shells and thin films! o =loat a film of bipolar material 'one end hydrophilic, one end hydrophobic( on a reser%oir to limit e%aporation.

Principle 3.. Porous materials *! '! /a0e an ob#ect poro"s or add poro"s elements 2inserts, coatings, etc!)! o 2rill holes in a structure to reduce the weight. If an ob#ect is already poro"s, "se the pores to introd"ce a "sef"l s"bstance or f"nction! o Use a porous metal mesh to wick e cess solder away from a joint.

4tore hydrogen in the pores of a palladium sponge. '=uel ?tank? for the hydrogen car$$much safer than storing hydrogen gas(

Principle 32. 3olor changes *! '! 1hange the color of an ob#ect or its external environment! o Use safe lights in a photographic darkroom. 1hange the transparency of an ob#ect or its external environment! o Use photolithography to change transparent material to a solid mask for semiconductor processing. 4imilarly, change mask material from transparent to opa!ue for silk screen processing.

Principle 33. 8omogeneit *! /a0e ob#ects interacting with a given ob#ect of the same material 2or material with identical properties)! o Make the container out of the same material as the contents, to reduce chemical reactions.

Make a diamond cutting tool out of diamonds.

Principle 34. 4iscar)ing an) recovering *! /a0e portions of an ob#ect that have f"lfilled their f"nctions go away 2discard by dissolving, evaporating, etc!) or modify these directly d"ring operation! o Use a dissol%ing capsule for medicine. 6ce structures9 use water ice or carbon dio ide 'dry ice( to make a template for a rammed earth structure, such as a temporary dam. =ill with earth, then, let the ice melt or sublime to lea%e the final structure. 1onversely, restore cons"mable parts of an ob#ect directly in operation! o 4elf$sharpening lawn mower blades

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4prinkle water on cornstarch$based packaging and watch it reduce its %olume by more than 5@@@:E

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&utomobile engines that gi%e themsel%es a ?tune up? while running 'the ones that say ?5@@,@@@ miles between tune ups?(

Principle 3". Parameter changes *! *! 1hange an ob#ect3s physical state 2e!g! to a gas, li6"id, or solid! o =ree+e the li!uid centers of filled candies, then dip in melted chocolate, instead of handling the messy, gooey, hot li!uid. o ,ransport o ygen or nitrogen or petroleum gas as a li!uid, instead of a gas, to reduce %olume. 1hange the concentration or consistency! o Li!uid hand soap is concentrated and more %iscous than bar soap at the point of use, making it easier to dispense in the correct amount and more sanitary when shared by se%eral people. 1hange the degree of flexibility!

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Use adjustable dampers to reduce the noise of parts falling into a container by restricting the motion of the walls of the container. o Vulcani+e rubber to change its fle ibility and durability. 1hange the temperat"re! o Raise the temperature abo%e the )urie point to change a ferromagnetic substance to a paramagnetic substance. o Raise the temperature of food to cook it. ')hanges taste, aroma, te ture, chemical properties, etc.(

Lower the temperature of medical specimens to preser%e them for later analysis.

Principle 3$. Phase transitions *! 7se phenomena occ"rring d"ring phase transitions 2e!g! vol"me changes, loss or absorption of heat, etc!)! o Fater e pands when fro+en, unlike most other li!uids. #annibal is reputed to ha%e used this when marching on Rome a few thousand years ago. Large rocks blocked passages in the &lps. #e poured water on them at night. ,he o%ernight cold fro+e the water, and the e pansion split the rocks into small pieces which could be pushed aside. o #eat pumps use the heat of %apori+ation and heat of condensation of a closed thermodynamic cycle to do useful work.

Principle 3&. Thermal expansion *! 7se thermal expansion 2or contraction) of materials! o =it a tight joint together by cooling the inner part to contract, heating the outer part to e pand, putting the joint together, and returning to e!uilibrium. If thermal expansion is being "sed, "se m"ltiple materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion! o ,he basic leaf spring thermostat9 '> metals with different coefficients of e pansion are linked so that it bends one way when warmer than nominal and the opposite way when cooler.(

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Principle 3*. 2trong oxi)ants *! '! %eplace common air with oxygen4enriched air! o 4cuba di%ing with Aitro or other non$air mi tures for e tended endurance %eplace enriched air with p"re oxygen! o )ut at a higher temperature using an o y$acetylene torch.

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o ,reat wounds in a high pressure o ygen en%ironment to kill anaerobic bacteria and aid healing. Expose air or oxygen to ioni9ing radiation! 7se ioni9ed oxygen! o 6oni+e air to trap pollutants in an air cleaner. %eplace o9oni9ed 2or ioni9ed) oxygen with o9one! o 4peed up chemical reactions by ioni+ing the gas before use.

Principle 3-. Inert atmosphere *! '! %eplace a normal environment with an inert one! o "re%ent degradation of a hot metal filament by using an argon atmosphere. *dd ne"tral parts, or inert additives to an ob#ect! o 6ncrease the %olume of powdered detergent by adding inert ingredients. ,his makes it easier to measure with con%entional tools.

Principle 40. 3omposite materials *! 1hange from "niform to composite 2m"ltiple) materials! o )omposite epo y resinGcarbon fiber golf club shafts are lighter, stronger, and more fle ible than metal. 4ame for airplane parts. o =iberglass surfboards are lighter and more controllable and easier to form into a %ariety of shapes than wooden ones.