Rocker Assembly Personal Care Applicator for Limited Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with impaired arm mobility, particularly in adduction, abduction, and rotational movements, face significant challenges in applying personal care solutions, such as deodorant and antiperspirant, to their underarms and other hard-to-reach areas, leading to discomfort and reduced independence.
Innovation Solution
A personal care applicator device comprising a head with a rocker assembly rotatably disposed within an anchoring scaffold and a rod extending from the rocker assembly, designed to be versatile, comprehensive, portable, storable, lightweight, and easily manufactured, allowing for discreet and efficient application of personal care compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional manual application methods are used, then individuals with impaired arm mobility cannot reach hard-to-reach areas, but the device adds structural complexity to enable rotation and extension
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: a handle for gripping, a rod for extension, and a head containing the rocker assembly for rotational movement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The rocker assembly introduces dynamic rotational capability to an otherwise static applicator structure. The pivot point enables the head to rotate and articulate, allowing users to reach hard-to-access areas like the opposite underarm, while the rotation mechanism remains simple and low-friction to maintain ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the device is designed to be portable and storable, then the components must be compact, but this limits the rod extension length needed to reach distant body areas
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is segmented into telescopic sections that can extend to provide sufficient reach during use, then retract into a compact configuration for portable storage. This allows the device to achieve both long extension length for reaching distant body areas and small volume for carrying in a bag or pocket.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod transitions between static compact state for storage and dynamic extended state for application. The telescopic mechanism allows smooth extension and retraction, providing the necessary reach when needed while minimizing the device footprint when not in use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the rocker assembly allows free rotation for versatile application, then the mechanism requires precise engineering, but this increases manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational mechanism is segmented into simple discrete components: a pivot point, a rocker arm, and bearing surfaces. Each component can be manufactured using standard machining processes, and their assembly requires minimal precision beyond typical manufacturing tolerances, making the device easy to produce while still achieving versatile rotational movement.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are a personal care applicator device comprising a head having a rocker assembly rotatably disposed within an anchoring scaffold; and a rod extending from the rocker assembly. Related methods of use and kits are further provided.