Adjustable Bath Tub Rail Assembly With Locking Grip Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bath tub rail assemblies lack adjustability in height and angular orientation, failing to meet the diverse needs of users, particularly those with weakened or infirm conditions, and often have complex adjustment mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A bath tub rail assembly featuring a clamping device with adjustable first and second clamping members and an adjustable connector, including inner and outer tubes with lock pins, allowing the hand grip to be securely positioned in various heights and angular orientations relative to the bath tub sidewall.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hand grips are integrated with the base body in fixed positions, then the structure is simple and stable, but the height position and angular orientation cannot be adjusted to meet different user needs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of hand grip position and orientationVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hand grip assembly is designed with dynamic adjustability through telescopic tubes that allow height adjustment and rotation joints that enable angular orientation changes. The lock pins provide discrete positioning options while maintaining structural stability when locked, thus achieving adaptability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between the base body and hand grip is divided into multiple independent adjustment components: a telescopic tube assembly for height adjustment and a rotation joint for angular orientation. This segmentation allows each degree of freedom to be adjusted independently through simple mechanisms rather than a complex integrated system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a complex adjustment structure is used to achieve angular orientation adjustment, then the hand grip can be positioned to meet user needs, but the structure becomes relatively complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular orientation adjustabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A rotation joint is incorporated between the telescopic tube and the hand grip, allowing the hand grip to rotate to different angular orientations. This simple rotational degree of freedom provides the necessary adaptability without requiring complex mechanical linkages or adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple lock pins are pre-positioned at different angular orientations around the rotation joint, allowing the user to directly select and lock the desired angular position without complex adjustment procedures. The preliminary positioning of lock pins simplifies the adjustment process while achieving the required adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7823230B2Bath tub rail

Publication Date: 2010.11.02 DRIVE MEDICAL CANADA INC

AI summary

A bath tub rail assembly for use on a bath tub sidewall includes a hand grip and a clamping device. The hand grip and the clamping device are adjustably connected such that the hand grip may be adjusted in both height and angular orientation relative to the bath tube sidewall when the bath tub rail assembly is attached thereto.