Drying method for limited mobility individuals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Individuals with mobility impairments face challenges in maintaining personal hygiene without assistance, particularly in drying sensitive areas without bending down, which compromises their dignity.

Innovation Solution

A towel with a diagonal strap and side handles allows users to lift and dry their legs and torso without bending, enabling independent drying by adjusting the strap height and using handles for additional support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional towel is used for drying, then the towel can cover and dry the body, but the user must bend down to reach and dry their legs, which is difficult for individuals with mobility impairments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of drying legsVSAvoidphysical strain from bending

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the drying process by attaching a strap to the top edge of the towel and anchoring it to a vertical support. This allows the towel to be lifted upward between the legs, transforming the horizontal bending motion into a vertical lifting motion that is easier for mobility-impaired individuals to perform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The strap serves as an intermediary element between the user's hand and the towel. By pulling the strap upward, the user can lift the towel to the appropriate position without directly manipulating the towel itself, reducing the physical effort and bending required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If someone else washes and cleans the body of mobility-impaired individuals, then hygiene is maintained, but the individual loses dignity and independence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene maintenanceVSAvoidindependence in self-care

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables mobility-impaired individuals to perform their own hygiene tasks independently. The strap and anchor system provides the mechanical advantage needed to lift and position the towel for drying sensitive areas, allowing users to maintain their own hygiene without assistance and preserve their dignity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the towel is lifted high enough to dry between the legs, then drying of sensitive areas is enabled, but the towel may not provide sufficient coverage for the torso

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to sensitive areasVSAvoidtowel coverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic drying system where the towel can be positioned at different heights and angles. The strap allows the top edge to be lifted high for between-leg drying, while the bottom edge can still reach down to cover the torso. The towel's position is adjusted dynamically during the drying process to provide both access and coverage as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10863871B2Drying method for limited mobility individuals

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 COE SIMA

AI summary

A diagonal strap attached to a towel in embodiments of the disclosed technology allows one to lift a towel upwards to dry their legs without bending down. Handles on the sides of the towel allow one to further dry themselves while leaving their torso substantially in place. These methods of drying allow one with limited mobility to dry his/her body with limited help from others, while being less limited.