Bathroom Fall Prevention and Tub Drainage Safety Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elderly individuals and susceptible persons face high risks of fatal injuries from falls and drowning in bathrooms due to slippery surfaces and changing center of gravity, with existing fall prevention methods like anti-skid mats and additional handles being ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A shower fall prevention device with a ceiling-mounted rod and handle system, combined with a cushion and a wireless alarm system, and a bath tub drowning prevention device using a cone and pedals or an electric motor to drain water, both designed to stabilize and alert for potential accidents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anti-skid mats and additional handles are installed, then fall prevention is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple safety functions into a single integrated device: a shower seat with backrest, side arms with handles, and positioning features that work together as one unit. This merging approach provides comprehensive fall prevention without requiring separate anti-skid mats, handles, and chairs, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The shower seat is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: providing seating support, offering hand grips via side arms, preventing backward falls with a backrest, and positioning the user safely in the shower. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate safety devices, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
2Ease of operation
If a shower chair is used, then support for unable-to-stand persons is improved, but comfort and stability during movement are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the shower chair with additional support structures including a backrest and side arms with handles. This integration creates a stable framework that prevents the chair from moving or tipping during use, resolving the instability issue while maintaining ease of operation for unable-to-stand persons
Solution Approach 2:
The shower seat is pre-positioned at the optimal location in the shower before use. The design includes pre-attached side arms and backrest that are ready to provide support immediately upon use, eliminating the need for assembly or adjustment and ensuring stability is already in place before the user needs it
3Reliability
If fall prevention devices are added to the shower, then safety is improved, but the bathroom space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple safety functions into a single compact shower seat unit that integrates seating, backrest, and side arms with handles. This consolidation provides comprehensive safety coverage without requiring multiple separate devices that would consume more bathroom space
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional shower seat provides seating support, hand gripping surfaces, and back support all in one device, eliminating the need for separate safety equipment and thus preserving bathroom space while maintaining high safety standards
4Adaptability or versatility
If the cushion is made movable, then adaptability to user position is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion is designed to be movable along the longitudinal axis of the solid part, allowing dynamic adjustment to accommodate different user positions and preferences. This controlled mobility provides adaptability without requiring complex mechanisms, as the cushion can slide or adjust within a simple guide structure
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to devices for preventing fatal bathroom accidents relating to falls and/or 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. In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a shower fall prevention device, comprising a fixing point on a ceiling of a shower and two arm pit hooks pivotable connected to the fixing point. The shower fall prevention device may further comprise a rod connected between the fixing point and a bar, wherein said arm pit hooks are connected on right and left ends of the bar. The shower fall prevention device may further comprise a strong rubber band or an extendable and retractable belt rolled up in a box, fixed to the fixing point and connected between the fixing point and the rod. The shower fall prevention device may further comprise a handle next to the rod and connected to the bar via an extension of a free end of one of the arm pit hooks. The shower fall prevention device may further comprise a cushion formed on an extension of a free end of one of the arm pit hooks, wherein said cushion is movable upwards and to the side.