Device for cleaning, massaging and/or caring the lower extremities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for cleaning and caring for lower extremities, particularly feet, are cumbersome, difficult to maneuver, and require significant physical exertion, making them unsuitable for individuals with limited mobility, and often lack effective cleaning and massaging capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A device with a shower tray and nozzle unit where the nozzle is positioned at the bottom, allowing liquid to flow from the front side into the tray, enabling thorough cleaning and massaging without physical exertion, and can be retrofitted into existing shower trays, with adjustable nozzle arrangements and control units for personalized settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a device for cleaning lower extremities is provided with sufficient cleaning and massaging capabilities, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device becomes large, bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the nozzle unit from a separate standalone device and integrates it directly into the shower tray structure. The nozzle unit with cleaning and massaging capabilities is built into the shower tray bottom, eliminating the need for a separate heavy device while maintaining full cleaning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the cleaning device functionality with the shower tray structure. The nozzle unit is integrated into the shower tray, combining two functions (showering and foot cleaning/massaging) into a single unified system, thereby eliminating the need for separate heavy equipment.
2Reliability
If a device for cleaning lower extremities is made large and bulky to provide sufficient cleaning capability, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device requires significant space and is difficult to maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential cleaning functionality (nozzle unit) from a bulky standalone device and integrates it directly into the existing shower tray structure. This eliminates the need for additional space while maintaining effective foot cleaning and massaging capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the cleaning device with the shower tray, combining multiple functions into a single integrated system. The nozzle unit is built into the shower tray bottom, so no additional space is required beyond what is already allocated for the shower area.
3Reliability
If a footbath device is provided to enable thorough cleaning and massaging, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device is difficult to fill and clean
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the nozzle unit from a enclosed footbath structure and integrates it directly into the open shower tray. This eliminates the need to fill a separate container, as water flows directly through the nozzles during normal showering, and simplifies cleaning by removing enclosed spaces where dirt could accumulate.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the footbath functionality with the open shower tray structure. Water flows directly through the integrated nozzle unit during showering, eliminating the need to separately fill and empty a footbath container, and simplifies maintenance by avoiding enclosed spaces.
4Ease of operation
If a device is designed to be attached to a shower tray to enable cleaning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device may slip despite attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the cleaning device with the shower tray structure by integrating the nozzle unit directly into the tray bottom. This structural integration eliminates the attachment interface entirely, preventing slipping while maintaining ease of operation during showering.
5Adaptability or versatility
If nozzles are arranged in the wall of the shower tray to enable foot bath, then the versatility is improved, but the nozzles are not suitable for thorough cleaning and massaging of the soles of the feet
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging nozzles in the vertical wall surface, the invention inverts the arrangement by placing nozzles in the horizontal bottom surface of the shower tray. This allows water to jet upward against the sole of the foot, enabling effective cleaning and massaging of the foot sole area.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the spatial dimension of nozzle arrangement from vertical (wall-mounted) to horizontal (bottom-mounted). This dimensional change allows water to be directed upward against the foot sole, providing effective cleaning and massaging that wall-mounted nozzles cannot achieve.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable, fast, and thorough cleaning and massaging of lower extremities without physical exertion, improving hygiene and comfort for individuals with mobility issues, while being space-efficient and easy to maintain.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid introduced via the line can flow out of the front side of the nozzle into the shower tray
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (01) for cleaning, massaging and/or caring for the lower extremities, in particular the feet, comprising a shower tray (02) with a base, a nozzle unit (03) with at least one nozzle (04) which has a front side (04a) and a back (04b), and a line (06) for introducing a liquid, the line (06) being connected directly or indirectly, in particular via a distributor (05), to the back of the nozzle (04b). is, wherein the nozzle (04) can be arranged in the bottom of the shower tray (02) and that the liquid introduced via the line (06) can flow from the front of the nozzle (04a) into the shower tray (02).