Angled Control Aperture for Ergonomic Water Retention in Bath Toys
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bath toys fail to maintain an airtight seal effectively with either adult or child hands, leading to water loss and inefficient water control during bathing.
Innovation Solution
A bath toy design featuring a reservoir with a control aperture that can be sealed by a thumb or finger, offset at an angle between 5° and 20° from vertical, allowing for air-tight retention and controlled release of water through release holes at the bottom, facilitating easy operation by both adults and children.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control aperture is positioned at the top center of the reservoir, then water retention is maximized, but the toy becomes difficult for children to operate with small hands
Solution Approach 1:
The control aperture is deliberately positioned asymmetrically on the side of the reservoir rather than at the top center. This asymmetric placement allows children to easily reach and seal the aperture with their fingers while still maintaining effective water retention through the seal mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the reservoir is designed for single-handed adult use, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to different users is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The toy is designed with universal adaptability to serve multiple user groups - adults can operate it with one hand while children can use it with both hands. The control aperture size and positioning accommodate different hand sizes, and the reservoir capacity can be adjusted to suit different age groups, making the same toy suitable for both adults and children.
3Ease of operation
If the control aperture is made larger for easier sealing, then ease of operation improves, but water leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The toy utilizes the flexibility of the reservoir material (such as silicone or flexible plastic) to create an effective seal. When a finger or thumb presses against the control aperture, the flexible material deforms to conform to the finger shape, creating an airtight seal that prevents water leakage even with a relatively large aperture opening.
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
Enables efficient water retention and controlled release, allowing for prolonged and precise water flow, enhancing bathing control and demonstrating principles of air pressure and fluid dynamics.
Implementation Method 1
water within the reservoir is retained due to the reduced air pressure within the reservoir relative to the exterior air pressure
Implementation Method 2
water can drain from the release holes due to air flow through the control aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A bath apparatus for play and/or bathing having a reservoir, a plurality of substantially co-planar bottom release holes, and a top control aperture. Upon submerging the bath toy, water flows into the reservoir through the release holes as air escapes through the control aperture. When the control aperture is sealed with a thumb or finger and the toy is raised from the water, water in the reservoir is retained in the reservoir. When the control aperture is unsealed, water in the reservoir flows out through the release holes. The control aperture is offset from the top of the reservoir by approximately 12° to be ergonomically located and oriented to allow a thumb to produce an airtight seal when the reservoir is held in a single adult-size hand, or to allow a finger to produce an airtight seal when the reservoir is held by child-size hands in both hands.