Bath Plug Device with Pedal-Activated Drainage for Drowning Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elderly individuals and susceptible persons face high risks of fatal bathroom accidents due to slipping and drowning, with existing fall prevention methods being ineffective, particularly in dynamic environments like showers where anti-skid mats and additional handles fail to provide adequate protection.
Innovation Solution
A bath plug device with a cone and pedal-like units that automatically drains water when the user becomes unconscious, and a shower fall prevention system with ceiling-mounted rods, arm hooks, and a retractable belt to stabilize falls, along with a wireless alarm system to alert authorities in case of emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fall prevention methods (anti-skid mats, additional handles) are used in showers, then installation is simple, but they fail to provide adequate protection when center of gravity changes dynamically
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the falling body's own movement to trigger the safety mechanism. When a person falls, their body movement automatically activates the alarm system and drains the bathtub water, eliminating the need for manual activation or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical fall prevention devices (anti-skid mats, handles) with an automated system combining sensors, alarm, and water drainage mechanisms that respond dynamically to actual fall events regardless of body position changes.
2Reliability
If a shower chair is used to prevent falls, then it provides support for unable-to-stand persons, but it moves around and slipping still occurs when exiting or covered with soap and water
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the user to interact with or remain on a shower chair, the system automatically detects falls through body movement sensors and triggers safety responses, making it usable for all persons regardless of standing ability or soap coverage.
3Reliability
If fall prevention equipment is added to bathrooms, then safety coverage increases, but device complexity and installation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple safety functions (fall detection, alarm notification, and bathtub drainage) into an integrated system that responds to a single trigger event, reducing the need for separate independent safety devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves multiple safety purposes simultaneously: detecting falls, alerting others through alarm, and preventing drowning by draining water, making it applicable to both shower and bathtub safety scenarios with a single device configuration.
4Reliability
If the bath plug device drains water quickly upon detecting unconsciousness, then survival chances increase, but the mechanism must reliably detect and respond to fainting events
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the unconscious body's own movement (sliding down in the bathtub) as the trigger mechanism, eliminating the need for complex medical monitoring equipment to detect fainting events.
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 bath plug device increases chances of survival by draining water quickly, while the shower fall prevention system reduces injury severity and alerts authorities in case of falls, providing comprehensive safety measures beyond traditional anti-skid solutions.
Implementation Method 1
the bath plug device has an overall density which is slightly below the density of water such that the bath plug device starts to float as soon it is detached from the drain pipe
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to devices for preventing fatal bathroom accidents relating to drowning. Accordingly, in a first preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a bath plug device for closing a drain pipe of a bath tub, comprising a bath plug, a cone attached to the top of the bath plug, and at least one pedal-like unit attached to the left and/or to the right of the cone.