Foldable Bathtub with Rotatable Connector Joints for Easy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable bathtubs are laborious to assemble and disassemble, require significant force, and do not fold effectively, occupying too much space when stored.
Innovation Solution
A foldable bathtub design featuring a soft packaging layer and a barrel supporting member that can be easily folded downward, incorporating a multifunctional connector with foldable and fixed joints, and a stable triangular structure for the supporting frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the connecting piece is integrated with the supporting frame or fixed by a screw, then the structure is stable, but the folding process becomes more laborious and the folding effect is not good
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece is divided into a fixed portion (integrated with the supporting frame) and a movable portion (rotatable connector). This segmentation allows the structure to maintain stability when assembled while enabling easy folding through rotation of the movable portion, directly resolving the contradiction between structural stability and folding ease.
2Ease of operation
If the bathtub is made foldable by splicing, then it can be disassembled, but it requires good explosive force from the wrist to break an interference fit of a connecting structure
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece incorporates a rotatable connector that transitions from a locked position (during assembly) to a rotatable position (during disassembly). This dynamic mechanism allows users to easily disassemble the bathtub by simply rotating the connector, eliminating the need for explosive force to break interference fits.
3Volume of moving object
If a vertical supporting frame is folded to reduce size, then the bathtub can be made smaller, but it still occupies a large volume and is not conducive to storage
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting frame is designed with nested segments that can be folded inward and stored within the bathtub body or against the wall. The connector allows these segments to be neatly arranged in a compact configuration, significantly reducing the occupied volume and improving storage convenience.
4Ease of operation
If the connector allows rotation for easy storage, then the bathtub can be folded and stored easily, but the connector may detach from the support rod during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
A limiting piece is introduced as an intermediary component between the connector and the support rod. This limiting piece includes a limiting groove that guides and restricts the rotation of the connector, preventing it from detaching while still allowing sufficient rotation range for folding and storage operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable bathtub is provided. The foldable bathtub includes a bathtub body that is formed by a soft packaging layer that is supported by a shaping frame and a supporting frame g through a connector, the shaping frame and the supporting frame are composed of different styles of fixed joints and foldable joints. There are multiple connections between the shaping frame and the supporting frame that can be rotated or folded or rotated and folded at the same time. A user can decompose the bathtub body through reasonable and limited steps, which is convenient for the user to store. When in use, the decomposition steps are only needed to reverse to form the bathtub body, which has a simple folding process.