Auxiliary support device for shower stalls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower stall accessories, such as fixed seats and handles, are inadequate for individuals with limited physical mobility, particularly those unable to stand or sit comfortably, as they often require assistance and do not provide effective support for personal hygiene operations.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary support device with adjustable, transverse arms fixed to the shower stall wall, featuring soft and impermeable covering, a retention band, and adjustable vertical and horizontal positions, allowing for customizable support and ease of use for individuals with varying mobility and anatomical asymmetries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed seats are installed in shower stalls, then people with limited mobility can wash themselves in a seated position, but this solution is not suitable for people who are unable to be in a seated position due to arthrosis, spinal problems, or leg fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by providing adjustable support bars that can be positioned at different heights and locations within the shower stall, rather than fixed seats. This allows the support structure to adapt dynamically to users who cannot sit, such as those with arthrosis, spinal problems, or leg fractures, while still providing stable support for washing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bar system serves multiple functions: it provides vertical support for standing users, can be adjusted to different heights for various user needs, and offers lateral support through transverse bars. This multi-functional design makes the device universally applicable to different mobility conditions without requiring separate specialized equipment.
2Ease of operation
If fixed handles are installed on shower stall walls, then people with limited mobility receive support, but these handles are inadequate as they are fixed in position and require at least one hand to support oneself
Solution Approach 1:
The support bars are designed to be adjustable in position along the wall, allowing users to set them at heights and locations that suit their specific needs. This dynamic adjustability eliminates the limitation of fixed handles while maintaining the essential support function for users with limited mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The support system is divided into multiple segments: vertical support bars and transverse support bars that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for specific support needs, providing versatile assistance without requiring users to grip fixed handles with limited hand function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transverse arms with adjustable positions are installed, then customizable support is provided for individuals with varying mobility and anatomical asymmetries, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable mechanism allows transverse arms to be positioned at different heights and locations to accommodate users with anatomical asymmetries and varying mobility needs. This dynamic adjustability provides personalized support configurations while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure based on movable and fixed bar combinations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The object of the present invention is an axillary support device (1) for a handicapped user of a common shower stall provided with at least one flat wall, substantially constituted by a pair of transverse arms (2, 3) fixed to the flat wall of the shower stall by means of a pair of vertical supports (4, 5) firmly anchored to said wall. Said transverse arms (2, 3) are arranged in a manner so as to be substantially perpendicular, in the longitudinal direction thereof, to the wall to which they are fixed; such arms (2, 3) are shaped in a manner so as to have one end (6, 7) bent upward, one end constrained (8, 9) to the vertical supports (4, 5) and they are provided with a covering made of soft and impermeable material. The vertical position and the horizontal position of said transverse arms (2, 3) can be adjusted, the latter being translatable along said vertical supports (4, 5) and lockable in pre-established positions. The device (1) also comprises a retention band (10) adapted to support the user and housed in the bent end (6) of a first (2) of said transverse arms, extractible therefrom, and reversibly constrainable to the bent end (7) of the second (3) of said transverse arms, in a manner so as to be arranged transversely to said arms.