Expandable Portable Shower Enclosure for Small-Space Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable showers are not designed for use in small indoor spaces and are difficult for elderly or disabled individuals to use, as they lack the ability to be easily assembled and disassembled for movement through doorways and do not provide a seating option.
Innovation Solution
A portable shower device with a rotating curtain pole system that allows for easy assembly and disassembly, a battery-powered pump for wastewater management, and an optional seating platform, enabling use in small spaces and accommodating users who cannot stand while showering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the shower enclosure is designed with a fixed large area to provide adequate bathing space, then the bathing area is sufficient, but the device cannot be moved through doorways or easily stored
Solution Approach 1:
The shower enclosure employs dynamic poles that can rotate between extended and retracted positions. When extended, the poles create a large shower area; when retracted, the enclosure compacts to a small footprint that can pass through doorways and fit in storage spaces. This dynamic transformation allows the same structure to satisfy both large area requirements and movability constraints.
2Reliability
If the shower is designed as a permanent installation to provide stable bathing facilities, then the bathing experience is comfortable, but the device cannot be easily relocated or adapted to different locations
Solution Approach 1:
The shower system is divided into separable components including the shower pan, poles, curtain, and platform that can be independently assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows the shower to be reliably installed in one location, then easily dismantled and relocated to another position or storage area, providing both stability during use and adaptability for relocation.
3Device complexity
If the shower is designed for standing use only to simplify the structure, then the device is simpler, but it cannot accommodate elderly or disabled individuals who need to sit
Solution Approach 1:
The shower enclosure is designed to serve multiple functions and user types. The adjustable poles and expandable curtain create versatile bathing spaces that can accommodate both standing and seated users. The optional platform provides seating support for elderly or disabled individuals, while the overall structure remains relatively simple and can adapt to different user requirements without requiring completely different designs.
4Strength
If the shower enclosure uses rigid fixed structures to maintain shape and stability, then the structural integrity is strong, but the device cannot be compacted for storage or transport
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure utilizes dynamic poles with rotation joints that maintain rigid structural integrity when extended for use, providing stability and strength. When storage or transport is needed, these same poles can be rotated to a retracted position, allowing the entire enclosure to compact into a small volume. This dynamic mechanism preserves structural strength while enabling compact storage.
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
The portable shower device is easily movable and adaptable for use in small indoor spaces, providing a comfortable and accessible bathing experience for elderly or disabled individuals by expanding the shower area when needed and compacting for easy storage and transport.
Implementation Method 1
The float is configured to provide an activation indication when the water reaches a level in the basin or sump. In one embodiment the means for communicating an activation indication is by a magnet that moves into a position that activates a reed switch which generates the activation indication.
Implementation Method 2
The shower device can include a battery power pump connected to the collection basin. The pump is configured to remove washing effluent from the basin or sump. The pump is designed to pump the wastewater effluent up a height at a pump flow rate.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable shower device comprising a shower pan having shower poles that extend a curtain beyond the perimeter of the shower pan and curtain poles. The poles lock into an extended position. The curtain is tapered conforming with the extended pole shape. The pan includes a pump powered from the self-contained power source. The shower can include a platform and a chair.