Toilet with Sensor-Driven Adjustable Lifting for Height Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toilets are difficult for physically disabled, overweight, and aging individuals to use due to lack of height adjustment, and they lack effective health monitoring capabilities, with existing solutions being cumbersome or costly.
Innovation Solution
A smart toilet with a frame, bowl, and seat supported by actuators for adjustable height and angle, integrated sensors for health monitoring, and a processor for analyzing user data, allowing for customizable lifting assistance and continuous health tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a motorized seat is used to lift a person to standing position, then lifting assistance is provided, but the device becomes large and cumbersome around the toilet
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism is nested within the toilet structure itself, with actuators integrated into the bowl and seat assembly. The shroud covers the frame and mechanical components, creating a compact integrated unit that provides lifting assistance without adding external bulk to the toilet.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses adjustable actuators that can dynamically change the position and angle of the bowl and seat based on user needs. The lifting mechanism provides variable support rather than fixed mechanical assistance, allowing the device to adapt to different users and situations without requiring oversized components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the toilet height is fixed, then manufacturing is simple, but it becomes difficult for users with varying heights and body dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The toilet incorporates adjustable-height legs and an adjustable bowl angle mechanism that can be modified based on user characteristics. The system dynamically adapts its geometry to accommodate different user heights and body dimensions, transforming a static structure into a customizable one.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key geometric parameters including leg length, bowl height, and bowl angle to optimize comfort and accessibility for different users. These parameter adjustments allow the same toilet design to serve users with varying physical characteristics without requiring multiple fixed-height models.
3Loss of information
If conventional toilets are used, then the device is simple, but health monitoring capabilities are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The toilet is designed to perform multiple functions: basic sanitation, health monitoring through various sensors, data processing, and predictive analytics. The same device structure supports both traditional toilet functions and advanced health tracking capabilities, making the system versatile rather than requiring separate dedicated devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The health monitoring system operates passively during normal toilet use, collecting data without requiring separate medical visits or active user participation. The sensors automatically detect and record health metrics, and the processor analyzes the data to provide insights, enabling the toilet to serve its own health monitoring function alongside its primary sanitation role.
Data Source
AI summary
A toilet comprising a frame; a bowl supported by the frame; a seat also supported by the frame; a shroud for covering the frame; at least one lift mechanism supported by the frame for adjusting the position of the bowl or seat; at least one sensor for capturing at least one property of a user; and a processor adapted to analyze the at least one property to determine a characteristic of the user is disclosed.