Foldable Shower Chair With Pivoting Legs for Compact Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bathroom and shower seating furniture with rigidly mounted legs requires significant space for storage and transport, and existing foldable shower chairs do not adequately reduce height in the folded position, failing to meet the needs of users with disabilities who require adaptable seating solutions.

Innovation Solution

A foldable shower chair with telescopically guided, pivotable legs that can be easily locked and unlocked by hand, allowing for a stable unfolded position and a compact folded position, featuring a seat design with concave lines for leg placement and adjustable height to accommodate different uses and preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If legs are rigidly mounted to the seat, then the chair provides stability and structural strength, but the chair occupies significant space during storage and transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechair stabilityVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the legs pivotable rather than rigidly fixed. The legs can rotate between an extended stable position for use and a retracted folded position for storage, transforming the chair from a static structure to a dynamic one that adapts its configuration based on operational needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the chair into separable components - the seat structure and the four independently pivotable legs. This allows the legs to be folded beneath the seat, reducing the overall volume when stored while maintaining structural integrity during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If legs are pivotable to reduce storage space, then the chair occupies less space when folded, but the chair may lose stability and strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic leg mechanism allows the chair to transition between folded and unfolded states, with the legs providing structural strength when extended and reducing volume when retracted, resolving the contradiction between storage compactness and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

When folded, the legs are positioned beneath and merged with the seat structure, creating a compact configuration. When unfolded, the legs extend to provide the necessary structural strength and stability, combining the benefits of compact storage and robust construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the chair is designed for specific uses, then it provides optimal functionality for that purpose, but it cannot be adapted to different situations and user preferences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveusage adaptabilityVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a chair with pivotable legs that can serve multiple functions - providing stable seating when unfolded and compact storage when folded. This multi-functional design allows the same chair structure to adapt to different usage scenarios without requiring multiple specialized chairs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic leg configuration enables the chair to adapt its form and function based on operational requirements, transforming from a compact stored state to a stable usage state, thereby achieving versatility without significantly increasing design complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2486834B1Shower chair
Publication Date: 2014.06.11 INVACARE INT
  • EP2486834B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP2486834B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2486834B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The present invention relates to a foldable shower chair (10) comprising at least four legs (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) connected to a seat (1), said chair having a first unfolded and stable position and a second folded position in which the chair occupies less space than in said first position, wherein said legs can be pivoted to change from said first to said second position and vice versa, wherein a pair of lateral, left and/or right side legs (2a, 2b; 3a, 3b) are rigidly connected to each other by way of a connection profile (2c; 3c), said connection profile (2c; 3c) being pivotally connected to a lower surface of the seat (1) and wherein each of said legs (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) is fixed and stabilised in said first position by way of at least one locking means (11), said locking means rigidly fixing said legs to said seat, characterized in that said seat (1) and said connection profile (2c, 3c) are configured so that said legs (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) can be positioned over said seat (1) in said second position.