Raised Bathtub With Vertical Side Door for Sitting Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bathtubs with facilitated access for individuals with restricted mobility face challenges such as dangerous entry and exit due to the need to step over the side, limited door width causing discomfort and requiring assistance, and installation at floor level leading to health risks and dependency on assistants.
Innovation Solution
A bathtub with a wide lateral access section and a unique door mechanism that allows for comfortable and safe entry and exit without stepping, featuring a U-shaped opening and a shutter-like door that translates vertically, enabling easy access and installation at a raised height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a revolving door is provided in the longitudinal side of the bathtub, then access to the bathtub is facilitated for individuals with restricted mobility, but the door width is limited by the distance between the two longitudinal sides, requiring the user to enter in erected position
Solution Approach 1:
The door is configured to move along the longitudinal side of the bathtub (one dimension) rather than rotating across the width (another dimension). This allows the door width to be equal to or greater than the distance between longitudinal sides, enabling the user to enter in sitting position without the door obstructing the bathtub interior.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the door rotating towards the interior of the bathtub (conventional design), the door is designed to open along the exterior longitudinal side. This inversion prevents the door from creating an obstacle in the center of the bathtub and allows for a wider door width that accommodates the user's legs during entry.
2Ease of manufacture
If the bathtub is installed at floor level, then installation is straightforward, but the user needs to stand up from a low position which requires considerable effort and poses serious health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The bathtub is designed to be installable at various heights from the floor, not fixed at floor level. This parameter change allows the bathtub to be positioned at an optimal height for the user, reducing the effort required to stand up and eliminating health risks associated with low-level installation, while maintaining straightforward installation procedures.
3Ease of operation
If the door rotates towards the interior of the bathtub during opening, then the door can be hinged to provide access, but the door creates an insurmountable obstacle in the center of the bathtub
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening direction is inverted from the conventional design where the door rotates towards the interior. Instead, the door opens along the exterior longitudinal side of the bathtub, preventing it from creating an obstacle in the center of the bathtub interior while still providing effective access for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The door movement is changed from a rotational motion across the width of the bathtub to a linear motion along the longitudinal side. This dimensional change eliminates the obstacle problem in the bathtub center while maintaining door opening functionality.
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 solution provides enhanced comfort, safety, and independence for users by allowing comfortable sitting entry and exit without assistance, and can be installed at a raised height for easier access, reducing health risks and dependency on others.
Implementation Method 1
the door is subject to the pressure exerted by the mass of water contained in the bathtub. Such a pressure tends to energetically compress the door against the seal
Data Source
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AI summary
A bathtub with facilitated access comprises a long opening (15) provided with a door (2) that acts as a shutter; wherein said bathtub is raised from the ground by means of a base, in such a way that a user with walking disabilities can enter the bathtub through the opening (15) from a sitting position.