Hinged step for small person
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steps for accessing high sinks, such as those in public restrooms, often require insecure attachment methods that can damage plumbing and pose safety risks due to acute angles and gaps during deployment and stowage, and are cumbersome for maintenance, especially in renovated environments where a sleek design is desired.
Innovation Solution
A retractable step with a single foot secured to the floor at an inclination between 45° and 80°, featuring a hinge system with elastic stoppers and a cap that covers the hinge mechanism, preventing acute angles and gaps, and facilitating easy maintenance by eliminating the need for multiple feet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If steps are secured to wall, cabinet, or plumbing under sink, then the step is stable and secure, but the attachment may damage plumbing and is not suitable for all restroom configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the attachment point from the plumbing system entirely, securing the step only to the floor. This eliminates the harmful interaction with plumbing while maintaining attachment security through floor mounting, which is always available in restroom environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor serves as an intermediary mounting surface between the step and the plumbing system. By using the floor as the attachment point rather than directly mounting to plumbing, the invention provides secure attachment without damaging plumbing infrastructure.
2Reliability
If the step has multiple feet for stability, then the attachment is more secure, but the design becomes cumbersome for maintenance and floor cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a single-foot design that is segmented into functional zones: a mounting portion for secure floor attachment and a support portion for structural stability. This segmentation allows the single foot to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require multiple feet, simplifying maintenance while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single foot is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the attachment point to the floor and as the structural support element. This eliminates the need for separate mounting brackets and multiple support feet, simplifying the overall design for easier maintenance and cleaning.
3Ease of operation
If the hinge system exposes mechanical parts during deployment, then the step functionality is achieved, but acute angles and gaps create safety hazards for finger pinching
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed to preemptively cover the hinge mechanism before any dangerous acute angles or gaps can form during deployment. By maintaining coverage throughout the motion sequence, the invention prevents finger pinching hazards while still allowing full step functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism, which inherently creates acute angles and gaps during rotation, is covered by a cap that transforms this potentially harmful moving part into a safe, enclosed feature. The cap converts the hazardous exposed hinge into a benign rounded surface that eliminates pinching risks.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the cap fully covers the hinge mechanism, then safety is improved by preventing finger pinching, but the visual design may appear bulky and less sleek
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed with a rounded, dome-shaped geometry that eliminates sharp edges and acute angles. This curved design not only prevents finger pinching but also provides a sleek, modern aesthetic that contrasts with the boxy appearance of traditional covered hinges. The smooth curvature appeals to contemporary design sensibilities.
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 step is safer for users by preventing finger pinching and easier to maintain, as it does not create acute angles or gaps during use and has a smooth, single-foot design that simplifies floor cleaning and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the first stopper and the second stopper is made of an elastic material to dampen the hinging movement when a respective one of the stowed position and the working position is reached
Data Source
AI summary
There is described a step comprising a single foot secured to the floor for supporting a hinge system and a board onto which a user can step. The foot has an inclination Θ with respect to the floor, wherein the inclination Θ is fixed and lies between 45° and 80°. The hinge system installed on the foot provides a hinge with respect to the foot. The board extending in a plane is fixedly secured to the hinge system and hinges between a stowed position and a working position. The board is substantially horizontal when in the working position, and inclined at the inclination Θ when in the stowed position. The board is adjacent to surfaces of the foot and of the cap onto the hinge system, and does not define any acute angle with these adjacent surfaces. The board has a recess that, upon hinging, always conforms to the cap.