Foldable toilet footrest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footrests for toilets are often bulky, non-adjustable, and difficult to store or transport, and many foldable models fail to stay in desired positions or fold to a low-profile, making them unsuitable for space-efficient storage and travel.
Innovation Solution
A foldable toilet footrest with a platform and legs coupled by hinges, featuring a releasable locking system that allows the legs to be fixed in an unfolded or folded position, using a shaft assembly with a washer, spring, and knob to secure the hinge, enabling easy conversion between use and storage positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a one-piece and non-adjustable footrest is used, then the footrest provides stable support, but it becomes bulky and difficult to store or transport
Solution Approach 1:
The footrest is divided into multiple segments (legs and platform) that can be folded relative to each other. The legs are hinged to the platform, allowing the structure to be collapsed into a compact form for storage and transport, while maintaining full structural integrity when deployed for use.
2Ease of operation
If a foldable footrest without proper locking is used, then it is easy to fold, but it fails to stay fixed in desired positions
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism automatically engages when the footrest is unfolded to its use position, securing the legs in place without requiring manual intervention. This self-locking feature ensures the footrest stays fixed in the desired position while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical locking systems with a simpler spring-based mechanism that uses elastic potential energy to maintain the locked position. The spring-loaded design provides reliable position stability through mechanical force balance rather than complex interlocking components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design allows for a compact and space-efficient storage solution while maintaining ease of use, as the footrest can be easily folded and unfolded, addressing the issues of bulkiness and storage challenges of traditional footrests.
Implementation Method 1
a spring, the knob and a retaining member arranged in a groove of the shaft. The shaft assembly can be slidably fixed to the hinge to lock the leg in an extended or collapsed position
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable toilet footrest that includes a platform with a first leg and a second leg coupled thereto by hinges. The hinges can include a releasable locking system that allows the first leg and the second leg by to be fixed in an unfolded, use position or a folded, non-use position.