Foot Positioning Stool Geometry for Seated Bowel Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional western-style toilets require a biomechanically-compatible body positioning to facilitate effective bowel elimination, as they depart from the natural squatting position humans have historically used, leading to suboptimal alignment and strain on muscles during seated use.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, stable, and inexpensive body positioning system providing elevated and angled foot support options, including first-plane and second-plane foot supporters with non-horizontal angles, to mimic the squatting position, featuring a U-shaped design with friction-enhancing surfaces and instructional indicia for proper foot placement, allowing for hand-carrying and nested stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional western-style toilets are used with a chair-like seated position, then the toilet design is simple and widely compatible, but the body alignment is suboptimal causing strain on sphincter muscles and reduced abdominal muscle utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (footrest with positioning mechanisms) that mediates between the conventional toilet fixture and the user's body. This footrest elevates and angles the feet to achieve optimal biomechanical alignment (anterior pelvic tilt, knee position) without requiring modification of the toilet fixture itself, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining device simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes key biomechanical parameters (foot elevation angle, knee position, pelvic tilt) through the footrest mechanism. By adjusting these physical parameters, the system achieves optimal body alignment for bowel elimination without fundamentally changing the toilet structure, resolving the contradiction between improved operation and device complexity
2Ease of operation
If a foot support system is added to improve body positioning, then biomechanical alignment is improved, but the device becomes more complex and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is segmented into modular components: a base footrest, adjustable positioning mechanisms, and detachable elements. This segmentation allows the system to achieve complex biomechanical alignment functions while keeping individual components lightweight and manageable, reducing the overall perceived weight and complexity of the moving system
3Reliability
If a stable and fixed-geometry positioning system is designed, then biomechanical support is reliable, but the system becomes less adaptable to different users and positions
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates dynamic elements including adjustable footrest angles, movable positioning surfaces, and flexible support structures. These dynamic features allow the fixed-geometry base to adapt to different user body types and preferences while maintaining reliable biomechanical support, thus achieving both stability and adaptability simultaneously
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 system effectively positions the body to reduce strain on sphincter muscles, improve abdominal muscle utilization, and enhance bowel elimination by providing biomechanically beneficial angles and elevations, making it easier and more comfortable to use conventional toilets.
Implementation Method 1
friction-enhancing surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A system related to providing elevated support and positioning of the feet to place the body of a user in a posture facilitating bowel elimination during seated-position toilet use.