Inflatable Chamber-Pot with Membrane Joint for Stability and Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable chamber-pots lack stability and suitable height for adults, making them unsuitable for comfortable and secure use, especially for individuals with incontinence issues or those in remote areas where facilities are far away.
Innovation Solution
The inflatable receptacle features interconnected inner and outer membrane sides by a membrane joint, which extends between the lower and upper ends, creating partial air chambers that act like discs to absorb and distribute forces evenly, enhancing stability and preventing tilting and overturning, along with additional features like a lining bag for hygiene and a self-inflating option.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the chamber-pot is made low to maintain stability with toroidal rings, then stability is improved, but the support face interferes with the person's foot resting on the base, making it unsuitable for most people
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is divided into multiple segments (first, second, third, and fourth membrane portions) that are connected at joints to form a polyhedral structure. This segmentation allows the chamber-pot to achieve greater height while maintaining stability through the distributed geometric framework, resolving the contradiction between height and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional toroidal ring structure to a three-dimensional polyhedral framework with multiple membrane portions arranged in vertical and diagonal configurations. This dimensional change enables the structure to achieve both increased height and enhanced stability through spatial distribution of forces.
2Length of moving object
If three torus rings of equal size are used, then the chamber-pot can accommodate adults, but it becomes very unstable and tilts easily with lateral movements
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane portions are arranged asymmetrically with different orientations and connections (first membrane portion vertically, second horizontally, third diagonally, fourth vertically). This asymmetric polyhedral configuration provides structural rigidity and stability while accommodating adult users, resolving the contradiction between height and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane portions are configured to form curved surfaces that approximate a spherical or polyhedral shape, distributing lateral forces more evenly across the structure. This curvature enhances stability while maintaining sufficient height for adult accommodation.
3Ease of operation
If the receptacle is made portable and inflatable, then ease of transport is improved, but stability and structural rigidity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber-pot uses an inflatable membrane structure that transitions from a collapsed portable state to an inflated stable state. The membrane portions and joints form a dynamic structure that gains rigidity when inflated, resolving the contradiction between portability and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses flexible membrane portions that can be folded and compressed for portability but form a rigid polyhedral structure when inflated. These thin film structures provide both ease of transport and structural stability, resolving the contradiction between portability and rigidity.
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 solution provides a stable and comfortable seating experience by distributing forces effectively, preventing deformation and tilting, while allowing for easy portability and hygiene through the lining bag and self-inflating capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the partial air chambers created by the membrane joint and at each side of the latter, with regard to statics will act like the system of force termed a disc. The disc action of the partial air chambers entails that they will support each other and cause that shear forces by their appearance along the membrane joint are transferred to the support face and thereby to the base
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention provides an inflatable receptacle which may easily be brought along, and which in the inflated state may serve as a stable seat with comfortable seat height for a person. This is achieved by an inflatable receptacle which is peculiar in that the inner membrane side and the outer membrane side are interconnected by at least one membrane joint, preferably by welding the two membrane sides at the centre part of the receptacle, where the at least one membrane joint extends partially or entirely between the lower and upper ends of the receptacle. Great stability is achieved hereby, as optimal possibility for transferring an action of force applied to the upper end of the receptacle in parallel with the support face is created in order to absorb the action of force in a large part of the support face placed upon the base. This improved ability of transferring actions of force to the base arises because shear forces by disc action are transferred along a membrane joint according to the invention between the partial air chambers produced by establishing the membrane joint.