Flushable Toilet Shield with Extendable Arms to Reduce Fecal Splatter
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Solution Overview
Problem
People with chronic diarrhea/loose stools face significant toilet cleaning challenges due to splattering feces that are difficult to flush and require extensive cleaning efforts, often using non-flushable materials that burden septic systems.
Innovation Solution
A toilet shield made of flushable materials, such as paper or polyvinyl alcohol film, with extendable arms that intercept and contain fecal splatter within the toilet bowl, reducing splatter and facilitating easy cleaning while being designed for safe flushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a toilet shield is used to reduce fecal splatter, then cleaning ease is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The toilet shield is divided into multiple segments or panels that can be folded together to form a protective barrier. This segmentation allows the shield to be compact for storage yet provide sufficient coverage when deployed, reducing splatter while maintaining simplicity through modular construction
Solution Approach 2:
The toilet shield incorporates movable or flexible components that allow it to adapt to different toilet bowl shapes and sizes. The dynamic structure can be adjusted or folded into place quickly, providing effective splatter protection without requiring a complex fixed installation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If flushable materials are used for the toilet shield, then environmental impact is reduced, but shielding effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The toilet shield is constructed from composite materials that combine the strength and rigidity needed for effective splatter blocking with the flushability required for environmental safety. This may involve layering different materials or using specially engineered biodegradable composites that maintain structural integrity during use but break down safely during flushing
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the toilet shield are optimized to change parameters such as thickness, density, or material composition in different zones to balance shielding effectiveness with flushability. The material is designed to provide sufficient barrier strength when needed but to disintegrate at controlled rates during flushing to prevent septic system burden
3Ease of manufacture
If the toilet shield structure is simplified, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but splatter containment capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The toilet shield utilizes flexible shells or thin film structures that can be manufactured at low cost through simple processes while still providing effective splatter containment. These thin flexible barriers are sufficient to block fecal matter and liquids without requiring complex rigid frameworks, thereby maintaining both manufacturing simplicity and functional effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
A toilet shield comprises a tube, a first arm, and a second arm. The first arm is coupled with a first side of an opening of the tube and comprises a first plurality of adjustment holes configured into the first arm. The second arm is coupled to a second side of the opening of the tube and comprises a second plurality of adjustment holes configured into the second arm. The tube is configured such that a lumen of the tube opens in response to the arms being extended in generally opposite in directions.