Touch-Activated Illuminated Toilet Paper Holder for Low-Light Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toilet paper holders do not provide adequate illumination in unlit or poorly lit environments, making it difficult for users to collect toilet paper effectively.
Innovation Solution
A toilet paper holder with armatures that include integrated illumination members connected to a touch sensor and a power source, allowing for automatic lighting when the holder is touched, and optionally featuring a rechargeable battery and solar cell for power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional toilet paper holders are used without illumination members, then the device complexity remains low and manufacturing cost is reduced, but the illumination capability is insufficient in unlit or poorly lit environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination function with the toilet paper holder structure by integrating illumination members into the armatures. This merging of functions allows the holder to provide both structural support and illumination without requiring a completely separate lighting system, thus improving illumination capability while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensor enables the illumination members to activate automatically when the holder is touched, providing self-service illumination without requiring manual intervention or complex control systems. This approach improves illumination capability while maintaining relatively simple device complexity through automatic sensing and activation.
2Ease of operation
If illumination members are integrated into the armatures with touch sensor activation, then the ease of operation is improved in low-light conditions, but the use of energy increases due to additional power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination members are activated periodically only when needed (upon touching the holder) rather than continuously, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining ease of operation during low-light conditions. The touch sensor triggers illumination only at the moment of interaction, optimizing the balance between usability and energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual switching mechanisms with a touch sensor that automatically detects and activates the illumination members. This substitution improves ease of operation by eliminating the need for manual light switches while managing energy consumption through automatic, on-demand activation triggered by user interaction.
3Reliability
If multiple components (illumination members, power member, touch sensor) are integrated into the armatures, then the illumination reliability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the illumination system into distinct components (illumination members, power member, touch sensor) that are integrated into the armatures. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and tested separately with standardized precision requirements, then assembled into the final product, improving overall illumination reliability while managing manufacturing precision through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The armatures are designed to serve multiple functions: structural support for the toilet paper roll and integration of illumination components. This multi-functionality approach improves illumination reliability by using the existing armature structure as a platform for mounting illumination members, power members, and touch sensors, thereby reducing the need for additional separate mounting structures and simplifying manufacturing precision requirements.
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
Enables users to easily collect toilet paper in low-light conditions, enhancing usability and safety with automatic and reliable illumination.
Implementation Method 1
The armatures are further defined with a bottom surface, which includes at least one illumination member thereon, and which emits light downwardly
Implementation Method 2
The touch sensor powers the illumination members when a touching of the toilet paper holder is detected
Data Source
AI summary
An auto-illuminating toilet paper holder is mounted against a planar surface, such as a wall, and includes an auto-illumination capability. The toilet paper holder includes armatures that extend perpendicularly from a mounting plate. The armatures are parallel with one another, and support a bar member there between. The bar member is optionally spring-loaded, and is configured to support a roll of toilet paper thereon. The armatures are further defined with a bottom surface, which includes at least one illumination member thereon, and which emits light downwardly to aid an end user in collecting toilet paper when in an unlit or poorly lit environment. The illumination members are in electrical connection with a power member, and a touch sensor. The touch sensor powers the illumination members when a touching of the toilet paper holder is detected.