Concealed Wall-Mounted Folding Urinal with Sensor Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding urinals lack optimal design for domestic use, with issues such as urine splashing and protrusion into the room, and none provide sufficient privacy or space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A folding urinal with a main body and pivotally attached tray that can be moved between standby and in-use positions, featuring a concealed design, automated operation, and a flushing mechanism to prevent splashing and conserve space, equipped with sensors and an electric actuator for user detection and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a folding urinal is installed to save space in domestic bathrooms, then space efficiency is improved, but the urinal may protrude into the room even in closed position
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is nested within the main body when in the closed position, with the tray being receivable inside the main body. This nesting arrangement allows the urinal to be compact in closed position while still providing sufficient depth when opened for use, effectively resolving the contradiction between space efficiency and protrusion.
2Volume of moving object
If a folding urinal is designed to be compact and concealed, then privacy and space saving are improved, but urine may splash out of the sides when in use
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls of the tray are designed to extend higher than the side walls of the main body, creating a localized barrier at the critical splash zone. This local quality enhancement prevents urine from splashing out while maintaining the overall compact design of the urinal.
3Device complexity
If manual operation is used to open and close the urinal, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation and hygiene are worsened due to hand contact
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical operation is replaced with an automated sensor-based system. Motion sensors detect the user's approach and automatically open the tray, while presence sensors trigger automatic flushing after use. This substitution eliminates hand contact with operating mechanisms while maintaining simple overall device architecture.
4Length of stationary object
If the urinal is fully concealed in the wall, then privacy and aesthetics are improved, but accessibility and ease of use are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The urinal transitions from a static concealed state to a dynamic accessible state through automated motion. The tray pivots between closed and open positions based on sensor detection, providing full accessibility when needed while maintaining complete concealment during non-use periods. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between concealment and accessibility.
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 urinal is compact, hygienic, water-efficient, and space-saving, reducing the likelihood of urine splashing and providing privacy, making it suitable for domestic and public use without disturbing others.
Implementation Method 1
The tray (14) is pivotally attached to the main body (12) for movement between a standby position in which the tray closes the chamber (28) and an in-use position in which the tray opens the chamber (28) and receives urine from a user
Implementation Method 2
flushing means (80) to prevent splashing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A concealed wall-mounted folding urinal (10) has a main body (12) adapted to be mounted on an internal wail of a bathroom or lavatory in a building such as a dwelling. A tray (14) is pivotaliy attached to the main body (12) for movement between a first, standby, position in which the tray (14) abuts the main body portion (12), and a second, ready for use, position in which the tray (14) is ready to receive urine from a male person standing before the urinal (10). An actuator (78) is adapted to pivot the tray (14) between the first position and the second position in response to the output of a sensor (106, 108). When the sensor (106, 108) detects the presence of a person within a predetermined distance of the urinal, the actuator (78) is caused to pivot the tray (14) from the first position to the second position, When the sensor (108, 108) detects the absence of a person within a predetermined distance of the urinal, the actuator (78) is caused to pivot the tray (14) from the second position to the first position, in the first position, the urinal (10) is then flushed with water through a spray nozzle (80).