Inflatable Chamber Pot Structure for Height and Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable chamber-pots are unstable and unsuitable for most users due to design limitations, which restrict their portability and usability, especially for individuals with incontinence issues or toddlers, as they cannot maintain sufficient height and stability during use.
Innovation Solution
The inflatable receptacle features interconnected inner and outer membrane sides through membrane joints, which extend 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.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the chamber-pot is designed with toroidal inflated units to provide stability, then stability is improved, but the height is reduced and the lower ring interferes with the user's foot
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is divided into multiple segments (first, second, third, and fourth membrane sections) connected by membrane joints, creating a segmented structure that distributes forces more effectively while maintaining height and stability
2Length of moving object
If the chamber-pot is designed with equal size torus rings to increase height, then height is improved, but stability deteriorates and the pot becomes very unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is segmented into multiple sections with membrane joints that create partial air chambers, allowing the structure to maintain height while distributing lateral forces across multiple segments to prevent tilting and overturning
Solution Approach 2:
Different membrane sections have different orientations and functions - the first membrane section extends upward, the second extends downward, creating localized structural characteristics that enhance both height and stability in different regions of the chamber-pot
3Stability of the object's composition
If the chamber-pot is made low to maintain stability with toroidal units, then stability is improved, but the lower ring interferes with the user's foot resting on the base
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented membrane structure with multiple sections allows the chamber-pot to achieve stability through force distribution rather than low height, enabling the lower end to be positioned higher off the base and avoid foot interference
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
This design provides increased stability and comfort by distributing forces across a larger area, allowing the receptacle to maintain its shape and support users effectively, even when subjected to lateral movements, and can be easily carried and reused with additional features like a lining bag for hygiene and air inflation options.
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 at all points where the membrane joint comes closest to the support face
Implementation Method 2
the at least one air chamber is separated from the ambient atmosphere by a flexible membrane
Data Source
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.