Rotatable Shower Chair with Wall Coupling for Safe Bathtub Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bathing solutions for the disabled and elderly often result in loss of independence and privacy, with slippery bathtubs posing a significant fall hazard, and existing rotating seat assemblies interfere with bathtub cleaning and showering, requiring removal and potentially shifting during use.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable shower chair that couples to the bathtub side wall, featuring adjustable legs and a rotatable seat platform, allowing safe entry and exit while keeping the bathtub catch basin clear, with a padded grab rail for support and quick assembly without tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional bathing seat is used, then the individual has support in the bathtub, but the seat takes up space in the catch basin and must be removed for cleaning and showering
Solution Approach 1:
The bathing seat is divided into a stationary base portion that remains attached to the bathtub and a movable seat portion that can be rotated away. This segmentation allows the base to provide stable support while the seat can be moved out of the way for cleaning and showering.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat portion is made rotatable around the stationary base, transforming from a static structure to a dynamic one. This allows the seat to be positioned in different locations - over the catch basin during bathing and away from it during cleaning or showering.
2Ease of operation
If a rotating seat is used, then the individual can move from outboard to inboard position, but the device can shift while the bather is being situated
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a heavy stationary base that remains fixed to the bathtub and a lighter movable seat portion. The base acts as an anchor that prevents shifting, while the seat portion can be rotated for positioning adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation mechanism is designed to allow movement only when no weight is applied to the seat. Once the bather sits on the seat, the weight prevents rotation, ensuring stability during use while still allowing repositioning before use.
3Ease of operation
If the individual steps over the sidewall to enter the bathtub, then they can access the bathing area, but they risk falling due to the slippery surface and height
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable seat allows the individual to be positioned over the catch basin before actually entering the water. They can rotate the seat to bring their feet to the water level, allowing them to lower themselves in safely rather than stepping over the slippery sidewall.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable seat acts as an intermediary device between the bathtub sidewall and the water. It provides a stable platform that can be positioned at different heights and locations, facilitating safe entry without direct contact with the slippery sidewall.
4Reliability
If a four-legged bathing seat is used, then it provides stable support, but it consumes space in the catch basin
Solution Approach 1:
The four-legged seat is separated into a compact base portion that attaches to the bathtub wall and a movable seat portion. When the seat portion is rotated away, it no longer occupies space in the catch basin, while the base remains attached providing structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat is designed to rotate from a horizontal position over the catch basin to a vertical or side-position away from the basin. This dimensional change allows the seat to provide support when needed while clearing the catch basin area for cleaning or showering.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a rotatable shower chair that couples to the side wall of a bathtub. The platform for the rotatable shower chair cannot be moved until the platform is uncoupled from the bathtub sidewall. The seat is rotatable, allowing an individual to control rotation by movement of individual's body. A grab rail is placed along one side of the seat platform to facilitate repositioning by the bather.