Foldable Bath Tub with Nested Basin Wall for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable bathtubs for infants and toddlers are cumbersome for storage and do not accommodate the changing bathing positions of children as they grow, as they lack adjustable seating configurations and efficient drainage systems.
Innovation Solution
A foldable bathtub design featuring a base, rim, and basin wall with circumferential creases that allow the basin wall to fold into itself, providing adjustable backrest angles and offset sides to accommodate reclined or upright positions, along with a crotch support and drainage system with drain holes and a one-piece drain plug for easy drainage without relocating the child.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the bath tub is made foldable for compact storage, then storage space is reduced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bath tub is divided into distinct functional segments: a base portion, a basin wall portion with creases for folding, and a rim portion. This segmentation allows the tub to be folded into a compact configuration for storage while maintaining structural integrity during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The foldable bath tub utilizes a nested configuration where the basin wall folds back onto itself and the rim nests over the base when in the folded state. This nesting approach maximizes compactness for storage while allowing full expansion for use.
2Ease of manufacture
If the bath tub design is simplified for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the adaptability for different bathing positions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The basin wall incorporates circumferential creases that enable dynamic adjustment between different configurations. The creases allow the basin wall to flex and form different angles, accommodating both reclined infant positions and upright toddler positions, all within a single molded structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The bath tub is designed as a universal device that can accommodate multiple bathing scenarios: reclined positions for infants, upright positions for toddlers, and various drainage configurations. The single structure with adjustable basin wall angles provides multi-functionality without requiring multiple specialized tubs.
3Ease of operation
If the drain holes are positioned away from the child for drainage, then the child's comfort is maintained, but the drainage operation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drain plug acts as an intermediary mechanism that allows drainage to be initiated from a location away from the child. The plug can be pulled from the rim area to drain the tub without requiring direct access near the child's body, thus maintaining child comfort while enabling easy drainage operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable bath tub includes a base, a rim, and a basin wall. The basin wall includes at least one circumferential crease. The basin wall is configured to be positioned in one of a folded condition and an extended condition. When in the extended condition, the basin wall defines opposing lateral sides, a first back rest adjacent a first end of the bath tub and a second back rest adjacent a second end of the bath tub. When in the extended condition, the first back rest extends at a first angle relative to an associated subjacent surface and the second back rest extends at a second larger angle, and respective ends of the opposing sides of the basin wall nearest to the first end of the bath tub are offset a greater width distance as compared to respective ends of the opposing sides of the basin wall nearest to the second end.