Pivoting Bed Pan Cleaning Shield for Splashback Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bed pan cleaning systems expose caregivers to high levels of bodily fluids and contaminants due to uncontrolled water spray during the cleaning process, necessitating a solution that protects users and reduces cleaning time while being easily attachable to existing fixtures.

Innovation Solution

A shield device with a shield member and clamps that securely attach to the water fixture, guiding water flow downward to prevent splashing and automatically positioning with the fixture's pivoting action, ensuring the shield moves in tandem.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If water is sprayed directly onto the bed pan without protection, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but exposure to bodily fluids and contaminants increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidexposure to bodily fluids

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A transparent shield member is introduced as an intermediary between the water spray and the caregiver. The shield allows water to pass through for effective cleaning while blocking the back-spray of bodily fluids and contaminants from reaching the user, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and safety protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a shield device is added to protect the caregiver, then exposure to contaminants is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexposure to contaminantsVSAvoidshield device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shield is constructed from a thin, transparent, flexible shield member that can be easily attached to existing bed pan cleaning fixtures. This thin-film approach provides effective protection against contaminants while minimizing the addition of complex structural elements, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and device simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If the shield device is made to move with the pivoting fixture, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshield positioningVSAvoidfixture operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shield device is merged with the pivoting arm mechanism of the existing fixture through attachment means. As the arm pivots between storage and operational positions, the shield moves automatically with it, maintaining proper positioning without requiring separate control mechanisms. This combines the shield's positioning with the existing fixture's motion, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20260007559A1Bed pan cleaning shield

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 WAIMON INNOVATIONS LLC

AI summary

A shield device for a bed pan during cleaning using a pivoting water fixture having an arm and a head includes a shield member. The head of a water fixture is received in an aperture through the shield and the arm of the fixture resides in a channel disposed in the shield. The shield is connected to the arm and head of the water fixture. Clamps secure the arm in the channel and, as a result, the head in the aperture so the shield moves with pivoting movement of the water fixture. When the water fixture is in a downward cleaning position and with the water flowing from the fixture, the shield member is positioned over the head of the water fixture to prevent upward splashing of water and debris up from the bed pan toward a person cleaning the bed pan using the water fixture.