Rotating Sleeve Hygiene Device for Hard-to-Reach Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal hygiene assistance devices do not effectively allow users to reach hard-to-reach areas on their bodies without assistance, nor do they securely hold and apply products like medications to these areas efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A spring-loaded tongs device with a rotatable cylindrical holding sleeve that extends user reach and securely holds product containers of varying dimensions, allowing for independent application of products to hard-to-reach areas, and can be easily stored and transported.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a personal hygiene assistance device is designed to extend user reach to hard-to-reach areas, then the user can independently apply products to areas like the back, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: a handle assembly for user grip, an extending shaft for reach, and a rotatable cylindrical sleeve for product container holding. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall design manageable and not overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable cylindrical sleeve serves multiple functions: it holds product containers of various dimensions, allows rotation for different application angles, and provides a secure gripping surface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby managing device complexity while enhancing operational capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device includes a rotatable cylindrical sleeve to hold product containers of varying dimensions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical sleeve's dimensions and rotational capability are designed to accommodate varying product container sizes. By changing the geometric parameters of the sleeve (diameter, length, rotation angle), the device can securely hold and apply different products without requiring multiple specialized holders, thus maintaining simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If the device extends reach to hard-to-reach areas, then user independence is improved, but the device becomes more difficult to store and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The device components are designed to nest within each other when not in use. The cylindrical sleeve can be positioned within the shaft or handle assembly, allowing the extended reach device to be compacted into a storage-friendly configuration that is easy to store and transport while maintaining its full extension capability during use.
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
Enables users to apply products to hard-to-reach areas independently, ensuring secure containment and easy handling of products, while being inexpensive and easy to maintain.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of spring-loaded tongs
Data Source
AI summary
A personal hygiene assistance device including a handle assembly and a sleeve assembly. The handle assembly includes a handle which includes grip members at a distal end. The sleeve assembly includes a holding sleeve that is rotatably mounted in between the grip members of the handle. A product container is secured into the holding sleeve. The handle permits a user to reach hard to reach areas on the body of the user in order to apply medication or product from the product container unassisted. The holding sleeve and the product container are angled in a manner that facilitates the applying of the product to the user.