Flexible Shampoo Tray Neck Design for Seated User Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transportable shampoo containers, whether rigid or flexible, pose challenges due to bulkiness, weight, discomfort during use, and potential for leaks, leading to pain and inefficiency in hair washing and styling operations, especially for elderly and disabled individuals.
Innovation Solution
A transportable shampoo tray made of flexible elastomeric material with a neck configuration and straps that allows for easy handling and prevents water leaks, eliminating the need for inflation and reducing the need for post-flexion head tilting, thus enhancing user comfort and ease of installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid material shampoo trays are used, then structural stability is improved, but weight and bulkiness increase making transport difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shampoo tray is made from a flexible plastic material that can be folded into a compact configuration for transport and then expanded to form a rigid-like structure during use. This flexible shell approach provides structural stability when deployed while maintaining light weight and portability during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The shampoo tray transitions from a folded, compact state for transport to an expanded, rigid-like state for use. This dynamic transformation allows the tray to adapt its structural properties based on operational requirements, providing stability during hair washing while being lightweight during transport.
2Weight of moving object
If flexible plastic shampoo trays are used, then weight is reduced improving transportability, but they require inflation which increases installation time
Solution Approach 1:
The shampoo tray is pre-formed from flexible plastic material with integrated reinforcement elements and folding structures that eliminate the need for inflation. The tray can be quickly deployed by simply unfolding and positioning, significantly reducing installation time while maintaining light weight.
3Weight of moving object
If flexible plastic shampoo trays are used, then weight is reduced improving transportability, but they are susceptible to punctures and tears requiring repairs
Solution Approach 1:
The shampoo tray combines flexible plastic material with integrated reinforcement elements and structured folding patterns. This composite approach maintains the light weight and flexibility benefits while significantly improving resistance to punctures and tears through the reinforced structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray incorporates structured reinforcement elements and folding patterns that segment the material into stronger sections. This segmentation distributes stress and prevents propagation of punctures or tears, improving overall durability while maintaining flexibility.
4Reliability
If traditional shampoo trays are used, then water containment is achieved, but they cause discomfort and pain due to forced head tilting and neck post-flexion
Solution Approach 1:
The shampoo tray incorporates a cervical support element that extends into the third dimension to cradle the user's neck and head. This dimensional addition provides water containment while supporting the head in a neutral position, eliminating the need for uncomfortable neck post-flexion and forced head tilting.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray features a specifically designed cervical support region with different geometric properties than the main basin. This localized structural feature provides targeted neck and head support to maintain comfortable positioning while the rest of the tray maintains effective water containment geometry.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a portable shampoo basin (1) for shampooing a person in a seated position. The shampoo basin (1) has: - a proximal end (3) with a neck (31) configured to accommodate the nape of the person's neck, - a distal end (5), opposite the proximal end (3), and - two projections (7) forming the edges of the shampoo basin (1). The shampoo basin (1) is made of a flexible material to allow it to be transported in a folded position, and the neck (31) further includes two straps (35), each extending a portion of the neck (31) to terminate in a free end (35a) equipped with a handle (9) for the person to hold in a seated position. The present invention also relates to a method for shampooing at home using this shampoo basin (1).