Foldable disposable toilet splash guard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing splash guards for toilets are bulky, require cleaning, and lack convenience in storage and disposal, posing challenges for individuals with special needs and institutions concerned about disease transmission.
Innovation Solution
A foldable, disposable splash guard made from materials like cardboard or cornstarch-based paper, designed to be compactly stored and easily placed on a toilet seat, with options for flushability and urine collection or testing features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reusable rigid plastic splash guards are used, then the splash guard provides effective urine redirection, but the splash guard becomes bulky and requires cleaning, increasing device complexity and maintenance burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by providing a splash guard made from flushable materials that can be discarded after use. The splash guard is designed to be used once and then flushed down the toilet, eliminating the need for cleaning and storage of reusable guards. This resolves the contradiction by sacrificing the reusability aspect while maintaining the urine redirection function through a disposable alternative.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid plastic to flushable materials such as thick paper or cardboard. This parameter change allows the splash guard to be both effective at redirecting urine and compatible with flushing systems. The material transformation enables the guard to disintegrate in water, solving the cleaning and storage complexity issue while preserving the core function.
2Productivity
If reusable splash guards are used, then the splash guard can be used multiple times, but the possibility of disease transmission increases, requiring strict hygiene protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates disease transmission risk by making the splash guard disposable. Each user or each use gets a fresh, clean splash guard that is discarded after use, preventing any cross-contamination. This resolves the contradiction by prioritizing hygiene over reusability, using inexpensive disposable materials to ensure safety.
3Reliability
If traditional splash guards are used, then the splash guard provides urine protection, but the splash guard lacks compact storage capability, increasing storage space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by allowing the splash guard to be folded or rolled into a compact form that can be stored within itself or in a small container. The flexible paper or cardboard construction enables the guard to be collapsed into a minimal volume while maintaining its structural integrity for when it is needed, resolving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and storage compactness.
4Strength
If non-flushable splash guards are used, then the splash guard material is more durable, but the splash guard cannot be disposed of through the toilet, requiring separate waste handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from durable non-flushable materials to flushable materials like thick paper or cardboard. These materials are engineered to have sufficient strength during use to redirect urine effectively, yet are designed to disintegrate in water for easy flushing disposal. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by optimizing the material to balance durability during use with ease of disposal through the toilet system.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable splash guard is made from a disposable material, for example, cardboard, or from a flushable material, for example, corn starch. The splash guard can be carried in a flattened or folded configuration, providing for convenience of transporting multiple splash guards so that they are readily available for use. The splash guard is unfolded for use, and placed above a toilet seat or above a bedpan so that urine passing above the seat is redirected back into the toilet bowl, or into a bag for measuring or testing. After use, the splash guard may be discarded. Some examples may include a window with a color changing covering to indicate that urination has occurred, a bag for collecting, measuring, and/or testing urine, or a QR code that can be scanned to facilitate generating rapid, accurate urination records.