Handle devices and related methods of installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household and bathing environments often lack adequate handle supports, leading to hazardous conditions, especially for older or disabled individuals, due to the private nature of these spaces and the risk of slips and falls without immediate assistance.
Innovation Solution
Modular handle devices with customizable handle modules, connector modules, wall mounts, and couplers that can be easily installed and adjusted to fit various environments, providing safety and aesthetic benefits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional handles are installed to improve safety, then safety is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates and wall structure is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The handle device is divided into multiple independent modules: a handle module, connector modules, wall mounts, and couplers. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the handle module provides safety functionality while the connector modules and couplers are designed to be aesthetically pleasing and minimally intrusive on wall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting hardware and structural support elements (wall mounts, extension plates, fasteners) are extracted and separated from the visible handle portion. These functional but aesthetically neutral components are installed behind the wall surface or within concealed spaces, leaving only the clean, minimalist handle and connector modules visible on the wall.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular handle devices are designed for customization, then adaptability to different environments is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle module, connector modules, and couplers are designed as universal components that can be configured for multiple applications. The same basic components can be arranged to create straight handles, corner handles, or handles with different orientations and lengths, eliminating the need for completely different device designs for different environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular components are designed to nest together through the couplers and connector modules. The handle module nests within the connector modules, which in turn nest within the wall mount structure. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional elements to be compactly integrated while maintaining ease of assembly and disassembly.
3Ease of operation
If easy installation is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The couplers and connector modules incorporate asymmetric features such as alignment tabs and corresponding recesses, keyed interfaces, and directional mounting orientations. These asymmetric elements provide built-in alignment guidance during installation, ensuring that components fit together in the correct orientation without requiring complex alignment procedures or high-precision manual adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
Handle devices are disclosed herein. Modular handle devices have a handle module, at least two connector modules, each individually coupled to respective handle ends via a respective coupler, at least two wall mounts, each extending from corresponding connector modules, and at least two couplers, each coupler spanning from respective ends of the handle module to corresponding connector modules. Fixed, non-modular handle devices are also disclosed herein. Methods for installing handle devices are also disclosed herein.