Liftable Rear Panel Garment for Toilet Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long garments can cause discomfort and difficulty during activities such as using the toilet or engaging in physical activities, as they may become soiled or require rearrangement, presenting a challenge in balancing convenience and practicality.
Innovation Solution
A full-length garment with a liftable rear panel attached from the neckline to the mid- to upper back, featuring a drawstring or motorized lifting mechanism that allows the wearer to raise the panel above the seat area for enhanced access and reduced soiling risk, maintaining modesty and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the garment length is extended below the mid-thigh for comfort and modesty, then the wearer's comfort and modesty are improved, but the garment becomes more prone to soiling during activities such as using the toilet or sitting
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is segmented into a main body portion and a separate rear panel that can be independently raised and lowered. This allows the rear panel to be positioned differently from the rest of the garment, enabling access to the seat area while the main garment remains in place for modesty and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear panel is made dynamically adjustable through a lifting mechanism (drawstring or motor) that allows it to be raised above the seat area when needed and lowered to cover the opening when not in use. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the garment configuration to different activity states.
2Reliability
If the garment is made longer to provide comfort and coverage, then the wearer's comfort is improved, but the range of motion and ease of performing activities is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the rear panel from the main garment body, the invention allows independent movement of the panel while the rest of the garment remains stationary. This segmentation enables greater range of motion during activities while maintaining overall garment length for comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The position parameter of the rear panel is changed dynamically through the lifting mechanism, allowing it to move from a lowered position (providing coverage) to a raised position (providing access). This parameter change enables the garment to adapt to different activity requirements without compromising comfort.
3Ease of operation
If the rear panel is made liftable to provide access during activities, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the lifting mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The drawstring implementation allows the wearer to raise and lower the rear panel themselves without external assistance or complex mechanical systems. The simple cord-pulling action provides the lifting function through the wearer's own effort, minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention offers a motorized lifting mechanism as an alternative to manual operation, replacing the simple mechanical drawstring system with an automated motor-driven system. This substitution reduces the physical effort required while managing complexity through integration of the motor within the garment structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A robe-like garment with a liftable back panel. A draw string internal to the robe drapes over either the left or right shoulder of the wearer, and is attached to the bottom of the rear panel. To lift the rear panel, the wearer pulls downward on the draw cord. The panel then lifts to expose the back of the wearer, for example to allow the wearer to use a toilet. The panel may be constructed as multiple folding panels, like an accordion, or simply gathered in a vertical manner.