Collapsible Grab Bars for Walk-In Tubs Without Obstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grab bars in walk-in bathtubs and showers can create obstacles when not in use and pose a risk during falls or slips, as they extend beyond the bathing environment, necessitating a solution for a selectively usable and retractable design.
Innovation Solution
Collapsible grab bars, such as sliding or folding types, that can be moved between a usable and non-usable configuration, allowing them to be hidden when not in use, thereby reducing the risk of obstruction and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If grab bars are installed to provide support for users, then user safety and ease of operation are improved, but the grab bars create obstacles and hazards when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The grab bar is designed to be movable between a deployed position (providing support) and a retracted position (minimizing obstruction). The dynamic positioning allows the grab bar to adapt between providing assistance during bathing activities and becoming invisible when not needed, thus resolving the contradiction between safety support and obstruction hazard.
Solution Approach 2:
The grab bar system is divided into separate functional components: the support structure, the movable grab bar element, and the mounting mechanism. This segmentation allows the grab bar to be independently positioned and controlled, enabling it to provide support when needed while being retractable to eliminate obstacles when not in use.
2Reliability
If grab bars extend from the bathtub surface to provide support, then user stability is improved, but the extended bars can injure users during falls or slips
Solution Approach 1:
The grab bar transitions from a static extended structure to a dynamic retractable one. When a fall or slip occurs, the grab bar can be quickly retracted or collapsed to eliminate the protruding obstacle that could cause injury, while still providing stability during normal bathing activities when extended.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes preliminary safety mechanisms such as quick-release latches or collapse features that allow the grab bar to be rapidly retracted in response to detected falls or slips, preventing the extended bar from becoming a harmful obstacle during accidents.
3Ease of operation
If fixed grab bars are used to assist users, then ease of operation is improved, but the permanent structure reduces aesthetic appeal and creates constant obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The grab bar system transitions from a permanent fixed structure to a dynamic movable one that can be deployed only when needed. This allows the bathing environment to maintain clean lines and aesthetic appeal when the grab bar is retracted, while still providing user support functionality when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The grab bar is extracted from the permanent fixture category and becomes a movable, removable component. This extraction allows the grab bar to be present only when functionally needed, eliminating the constant visual obstruction and aesthetic compromise associated with permanent installations.
Data Source
AI summary
A walk-in bathing environment is used by people who may have trouble getting in and out of standard bathtubs or showers. Grab bars are positioned in and around the bathing environments to aid in entering the environments, exiting the environments, sitting, standing, and otherwise moving relative to the bathing environment. The grab bars may be placed on the walls, top, external, or generally on and around the bathing environment such that a user can grab the one or more grab bars in order to provide support for moving relative to the bathing environment. The grab bars are connected to the environment such that they can be moved between a use and a non-use configuration, such that the bars are extending from a portion of the housing only when desired by the user.