Trailer-Mounted Temporary Sink With ADA Knee Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing externally-accessible wash basins in mobile trailers are not ADA-compliant, as they lack sufficient knee space for wheelchair users and are not easily accessible due to the trailer's exterior wall blocking access.
Innovation Solution
A temporary wash basin design that includes a sink portion, a faucet portion, and a pedestal portion, which suspends the sink above the ground at a suitable height to provide sufficient knee clearance, and is configured to be releasably mounted to a trailer, allowing it to be easily accessed by wheelchair users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the wash basin is installed within the trailer's footprint and access is provided through an exterior door, then the wash basin is externally accessible, but wheelchair users cannot access it because the exterior wall blocks them from getting close enough and there is no knee space
Solution Approach 1:
The wash basin system is divided into separate components: a sink unit, a pedestal base, and a mounting system. The pedestal portion can be independently positioned to create knee clearance space, while the sink unit remains accessible. This segmentation allows the knee clearance function to be separated from the wall structure, enabling wheelchair access without requiring modifications to the trailer's exterior wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The wash basin is elevated vertically using a pedestal structure, creating knee clearance space in the horizontal dimension beneath the sink. By adding this vertical dimension through the pedestal, the design provides both the required knee clearance for wheelchair users and maintains the sink's functional height for water delivery, resolving the spatial conflict between accessibility and functionality.
2Reliability
If a permanent wash basin structure is installed in the trailer, then it provides stable water supply and drainage, but it cannot be easily relocated or adjusted for different deployment scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The wash basin system incorporates dynamic mounting capabilities with adjustable pedestals and removable mounting brackets that allow the entire assembly to be repositioned along the trailer wall or removed entirely. The flexible positioning system maintains reliable water and electrical connections through extendable hoses and cables, enabling the facility to adapt to different deployment scenarios while preserving connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The water supply and drainage systems are segmented into modular components with flexible connections. The pedestal and sink unit can be separated from permanent trailer fixtures, allowing the wash basin to be relocated while maintaining functional connections through flexible hoses and detachable fittings, thus achieving both reliability and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A temporary wash basin for a trailer is provided. The temporary wash basin includes a sink portion, a faucet portion, and a pedestal portion. The sink portion includes a basin defining a drain. The faucet portion is connectable to at least one water supply line and controls flow of water into the basin. The pedestal portion suspends the sink portion above a surface at a suitable height to establish sufficient knee clearance to comply with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). The pedestal portion includes a mounting member to releasably mount the pedestal portion to a portion of the trailer, such as the tongue of the trailer.