Toilet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toilets face challenges in maintaining cleanliness, especially at hinge locations, and aesthetics due to traditional pivot-based mechanisms, which are difficult to clean and obstruct the view, leading to a less hygienic and less elegant design.
Innovation Solution
The toilet features a cover and seat opening mechanism using a ball-and-socket hinge or angled axis rotation, allowing the cover and seat to pivot and rotate independently or together, moving between a lowered and stowed position, obscuring the hinge mechanism from view and reducing dirt accumulation, while also providing lumbar support and heating for user comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a traditional pivot-based mechanism is used to connect the cover and seat to the base, then the mechanism is simple in structure, but the hinge location becomes difficult to clean and obstructs the view, reducing cleanliness and aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hinge mechanism from its traditional location and integrates it within the base structure. The cover and seat are rotatably coupled to the base with the rotation mechanism contained inside the base, removing the visible external hinge that accumulates dirt and obstructs the view.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism is nested within the base structure. The rotation mechanism is contained inside the base, with the cover and seat rotating about an angled axis that is integrated into the base design, hiding the mechanism from view and preventing dirt accumulation.
2Device complexity
If a traditional horizontal pivot axis is used for the cover and seat, then the mechanism is simple, but the hinge obstructs the view and reduces aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an angled axis instead of a traditional horizontal pivot axis. The cover and seat rotate about an angled axis that is oriented upward and forward toward a front end of the base, creating an asymmetric rotation path that improves visual appearance and eliminates the need for visible external hinges.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation mechanism transitions from a simple horizontal pivot to a three-dimensional angled axis rotation. The cover and seat rotate about an angled axis oriented upward and forward, adding dimensional complexity to the rotation path while hiding the mechanism within the base structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the cover and seat are fixed in position, then the structure is stable, but user comfort is reduced without lumbar support and heating features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into the cover and seat assembly, including lumbar support and heating features. The cover and seat not only provide structural coverage and seating but also offer ergonomic support and thermal comfort, enhancing user experience while maintaining structural stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A toilet includes a base, a cover, and a seat. The seat is rotatably coupled to the base, and the cover is rotatably coupled to the seat. The cover and the seat define an angled axis that is oriented upward and forward toward a front end of the base. The cover and the seat are each configured to rotate about the angled axis between a lowered position in which the cover and the seat are located adjacent the base and a stowed position in which the cover and the seat are oriented in an upward direction.