Bathtub fitting standard external space while affording safe egress and larger floor area with enclosed volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bathtubs pose safety risks due to slippery surfaces during egress and limited internal space, leading to falls and reduced bathing/showering comfort within standard residential bathroom dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A bathtub design featuring substantially vertical walls, a thin cantilevered apron deck, and contrasting colors to enhance depth perception, which minimizes straddling and increases internal space by maintaining a smaller footprint, thereby reducing slippery horizontal forces and enhancing safety and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional bathtubs are designed with standard dimensions and thick apron decks, then structural strength and manufacturing simplicity are improved, but internal bathing space is reduced and egress safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bathtub is divided into distinct functional zones: a dry egress zone with contrasting color markings at the perimeter, and a wet bathing zone in the center. This segmentation allows the thick apron deck to serve dual purposes - providing structural strength while creating a safe dry landing area that reduces egress risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The apron deck incorporates local quality variations through contrasting color markings (such as dark grout lines or colored tiles) at the perimeter edges. These localized visual cues provide depth perception and boundary definition specifically where needed for safety, without requiring the entire bathtub structure to be modified.
2Volume of moving object
If bathtubs are designed with thick apron decks for structural strength, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but internal bathing space is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The thick apron deck is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural strength for installation, creates a raised perimeter barrier for water containment, and incorporates contrasting color markings for safety visualization. This multi-functionality allows the same structural element to address multiple design requirements without increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The apron deck incorporates color changes through contrasting grout lines, colored tile borders, or painted markings along the perimeter. These visual modifications are applied during standard manufacturing processes and provide enhanced depth perception and boundary definition without requiring complex structural changes or additional manufacturing steps.
3Area of stationary object
If bathtubs use standard apron deck widths for door support, then structural strength is improved, but internal floor space is reduced and egress safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bathtub floor is segmented into a central wet bathing area and a peripheral dry egress area marked with contrasting colors. This segmentation creates a visual and functional distinction that guides users to place their feet in the safer dry zone during exit, reducing the effect of slippery horizontal forces on the body.
Solution Approach 2:
The contrasting color markings on the apron deck and floor perimeter provide preliminary visual warning and guidance before the user attempts egress. This preliminary anti-action prepares users to adjust their footing and body position to minimize the impact of slippery forces, preventing falls before they occur.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making a safe egress bathtub providing safe egress by reducing slide forces extended on a user's feet upon a slippery bathtub floor, wherein the formed bathtub has a limited rectangular footprint, and an optimized floor space is formed with a substantially planar base with a length and width that define the limited rectangular footprint and a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall integral with and extending substantially vertically upwards from the substantially planar base. Each of the front, back, first side wall and second side wall have minimal wall thicknesses to define the optimized floor space and the front wall has a substantially planar inwardly, cantilevered upper apron deck in a substantially parallel relation to the substantially planar base.