Adjustable shower assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shower chairs and benches pose tripping hazards, fail to facilitate undercarriage washing, and lack storage for hygiene products, making them unsuitable for users with mobility issues and vision impairments.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable shower assembly with interchangeable seat and handle subassemblies, featuring an adjustable-height support tower, brightly colored components for visibility, drainage holes for undercarriage rinsing, and a removable basket for storing hygiene products, which can be securely attached to a bathtub using suction cups or matching size for easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional shower chairs with four legs are used, then users have a place to sit during shower, but the chair legs create tripping hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The shower chair is divided into separate functional modules: a base unit with suction cups for secure positioning, and detachable seat components. This segmentation eliminates traditional four legs that create tripping hazards while maintaining stable support through the suction cup base system.
Solution Approach 2:
The base unit incorporates suction cups that utilize vacuum pressure to adhere to the bathtub surface, providing secure anchoring without visible legs. The suction force creates a stable support system that eliminates tripping hazards while ensuring the chair remains firmly positioned during use.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional white bench seats are used, then users have a simple seating option, but vision-impaired users cannot see the seat clearly
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is manufactured in high-visibility colors such as bright yellow, orange, or fluorescent green instead of conventional white. These colors provide strong visual contrast in the shower environment, making the seat easily detectable for vision-impaired users while maintaining simple manufacturing processes.
3Ease of operation
If conventional shower chairs are used, then users have seating during shower, but there is no storage for hygiene products
Solution Approach 1:
The shower chair design merges multiple functions into a single integrated unit: the base unit serves as both the structural foundation and storage container for hygiene products. The seat attaches to this multi-functional base, eliminating the need for separate storage solutions and maximizing space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The base unit is designed as a universal platform that provides structural support for the seat while simultaneously serving as storage for soap, shampoo, and other hygiene items. This multi-functionality addresses both seating and storage needs within a single component.
4Ease of operation
If conventional bench seats are used, then users have a place to sit, but they cannot wash or rinse their undercarriage
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is designed with dynamic positioning capabilities, allowing users to easily adjust their posture and tilt their lower body forward or to the sides. The detachable seat design also allows for quick removal to facilitate complete undercarriage rinsing, providing adaptability for various washing positions and angles.
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 adjustable shower assembly provides safe, accessible, and hygienic showering experience by eliminating tripping hazards, enabling undercarriage washing, and offering storage for hygiene products, enhancing usability for users with mobility and vision impairments.
Implementation Method 1
securely attached to a bathtub using suction cups
Data Source
AI summary
A shower assembly apparatus may include a main body that is removably installed in a bathtub. The main body includes a first mounting point and a second mounting point, separated by a spacing member. The main body includes an adjustable seat subassembly that may be interchangeably mounted at either the first or second mounting point. The adjustable seat assembly includes an adjustable-support tower and a seat attached thereto. The main body includes a handle subassembly that may be interchangeably mounted at either the first or second mounting point. The handle subassembly and the adjustable seat subassembly are configured such that the subassemblies are mounted at different mounting points of the main assembly, but may be changed between mounting points as needed. The spacing member of the main assembly may be positioned at a distal side of the bathtub relative to a bathtub entry point.