Portable urinal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable urinals designed for female use are often bulky, difficult to clean, and not suitable for use in a standing position, making it challenging for users to relieve themselves in privacy, especially in outdoor or wilderness situations.
Innovation Solution
A portable urinal with a telescopic spout and a saddle-shaped design that allows for easy emptying and cleaning, featuring a collapsible spout for compactness, a handle for convenience, and a latch mechanism for secure closure, enabling use in a standing position and facilitating privacy and hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing portable urinals are designed for female use, then they can provide privacy for urine relief, but they become bulky and difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The urinal is divided into two main segments: a collapsible spout portion and a container portion. The spout can be collapsed into a compact configuration within the container, reducing the overall volume when not in use. This segmentation allows the device to maintain full functionality while minimizing bulkiness and improving ease of cleaning by allowing the spout to be separated or collapsed for access.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout is designed with dynamic collapse capability, transitioning between an extended operational state and a collapsed storage state. This dynamic feature allows the spout to be extended when needed for urine flow and collapsed when not in use to reduce bulkiness and facilitate cleaning access to the container interior.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing portable urinals are designed for female use, then they can provide privacy for urine relief, but they are not suitable for use in a standing position
Solution Approach 1:
The urinal is designed with universal adaptability to accommodate different user positions and orientations. The collapsible spout can be directed at various angles, and the container can be held in different orientations, enabling use in standing position as well as sitting position. This multi-functionality maintains ease of use across different scenarios without compromising adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If the spout is extended for use, then urine flow is enabled, but the device becomes less portable and more difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is designed to nest within the container when collapsed, similar to a nested doll structure. The spout fits inside the container volume when not in use, minimizing the overall device volume and maximizing portability. When needed, the spout can be extended outward from the container for urine flow capability, then returned to its nested position for compact storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable female urinal. The portable female urinal includes a container having a front side, a back side, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a base, and an upper end defining an interior volume. The first and second sidewalls bow inwards to create a saddle shape. An aperture is included within the upper end that is configured to receive urine. A telescopic spout having an extended and collapsed position is included on the front side. The telescopic spout is designed to access the interior volume such that the contents of the container can be evacuated therethrough.