Concealed Plunger and Toilet Paper Storage for Compact Bathrooms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage solutions for toilet plungers and toilet paper are unattractive, inconvenient, unsanitary, and inefficient in terms of space usage, making it difficult to access these items while maintaining a clean and aesthetically pleasing bathroom environment.
Innovation Solution
A bathroom storage device with a base unit that conceals the toilet plunger's cup and a hollow spindle that accommodates the handle, combined with a cover unit that allows for vertical stacking of toilet paper rolls, providing concealed storage for the plunger and visible count of paper rolls, while the spindle serves as a handle for easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the toilet plunger is stored in a conventional container, then it is concealed from view, but access to it requires contact with both the plunger and container which is inconvenient and unsanitary
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger handle is inserted through the hollow spindle, with the cup nested inside the base container. The hollow spindle acts as a through-channel allowing the handle to pass through, enabling the plunger to be stored within the container while maintaining accessibility through the spindle opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow spindle serves as an intermediary structure that allows the plunger handle to extend through the container. This mediator enables users to access the plunger by reaching through the hollow spindle without needing to open or contact the main container body, improving sanitation and convenience.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional containers are used for storing toilet plungers, then they provide a receptacle for the plunger, but they are unattractive in appearance and unable to blend in with bathroom decor
Solution Approach 1:
The base container serves multiple functions: it conceals the plunger cup, provides structural support for the hollow spindle, and offers an aesthetically pleasing appearance that can blend with bathroom decor. The integration of these functions into a single unified structure eliminates the need for separate storage containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the plunger storage function with an aesthetically designed container structure. The base container and hollow spindle are combined into a unified design that simultaneously provides concealment and visual appeal, eliminating the trade-off between functionality and aesthetics.
3Area of stationary object
If space is at a premium in the bathroom, then there may not be sufficient space to store a plunger and other toilet necessities within reasonable distance from the toilet bowl
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple storage functions into a single compact unit. The base container holds the plunger cup while the hollow spindle accommodates the handle and can also store toilet paper rolls, eliminating the need for multiple separate storage devices and maximizing space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device performs multiple functions in one location: concealing the plunger cup, accommodating the handle through the hollow spindle, and providing storage for toilet paper rolls. This multi-functionality allows all necessary toilet accessories to be stored within reasonable distance from the toilet bowl without requiring additional floor space.
4Ease of operation
If the toilet plunger is placed exposed in the bathroom, then it is easily accessible, but it is neither aesthetically pleasing nor sanitary
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger cup is nested within the base container for concealment and sanitation, while the handle extends through the hollow spindle to maintain accessibility. This nested arrangement allows the plunger to be stored in a sanitary environment while remaining easily accessible through the spindle opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow spindle acts as an intermediary that separates the concealed plunger cup from the accessible handle. This mediator allows users to access the plunger through the spindle without exposing the cup to unsanitary conditions, simultaneously achieving sanitation and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A bathroom storage device for convenient concealed storage of a toilet plunger and visible storage of multiple vertically stacked rolls of toilet paper. The cup of the toilet plunger is concealed within a base unit having an open top from which the handle of the toilet plunger protrudes. A top member with a hollow vertical spindle is placed over the open top, thereby concealing the cup and handle of the toilet plunger within the base unit and hollow vertical spindle, respectively. Spaced vertical members about the periphery of the top member partially conceal the vertically stacked rolls of toilet paper while still enabling visual ascertainment of their number. The hollow vertical spindle may serve as a handle by which the top member and stacked rolls of toilet paper can be removed to gain access to the toilet plunger.