Shower seat construction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower seats and aids for individuals with reduced mobility in sanitary areas, such as showers and bathtubs, are not flexible, height-adjustable, or safe, posing a risk of injury and limiting independent use.
Innovation Solution
A ceiling-suspended shower seat with height-adjustable armrests and saddle-shaped seat, controlled by a user-operated fixing device, allowing secure positioning and movement along a rail system, adaptable to different room dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed shower seats are anchored to walls or ceilings, then stability and safety are improved, but adaptability to different room dimensions and user needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shower seat is suspended from the ceiling by a flexible suspension system that allows dynamic positioning at different locations and heights, replacing fixed anchoring while maintaining stability through controlled movement capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The ceiling-suspended design with adjustable positioning system serves multiple functions: it can be positioned over different shower/bathtub configurations, adjusted to various heights, and repositioned as needed, making it universally applicable to different room dimensions and user requirements
2Reliability
If shower seats are firmly anchored in shower cubicles, then stability is improved, but ease of installation and relocation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system enables the seat to be dynamically positioned and repositioned along rails or guides, eliminating the need for permanent anchoring while maintaining operational stability during use
Solution Approach 2:
The ceiling suspension acts as an intermediary between the fixed ceiling structure and the movable seat, providing both stability through ceiling attachment and ease of relocation through the suspension mechanism's inherent mobility
3Device complexity
If shower seats have fixed height, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different user heights and needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system includes height adjustment mechanisms that allow the seat to be dynamically positioned at different vertical levels, replacing fixed-height designs while managing complexity through standardized adjustment components
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables change of the height parameter through adjustable suspension length or positioning mechanisms, allowing adaptation to different user heights and needs while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a shower seat construction as an aid for a sanitary area for accommodating a person in need of assistance, comprising a movable shower seat 1, which is arranged on a seat support rod 20 and is designed to be displaceable on a room ceiling 30 via a ceiling suspension 28 on a rail system 17. According to the invention, the ceiling suspension 28 is designed to position the shower seat 1 in a sanitary area 29 via the rail system 17. The fixing device 25 serves to fix and release the positions of the shower seat 1 on the room ceiling 30. Furthermore, the shower seat 1 has two armrests 1a, which are designed to be height-adjustable via a perforated sleeve 3. Operating levers 2, 5 are arranged in the armrests 1a in order to realize a limited height adjustment of the shower seat 1 by means of a gas pressure spring 8.Another option for seat height adjustment is provided by holes in the seat support sleeve 12, which are arranged corresponding to openings in the seat support rod 20 and are realized by locking bolts 10. The specified shower seat construction allows people in need of assistance to perform hygienic measures and personal hygiene independently or with an assistant and to move safely in a sanitary area with a shower and bathtub.