U-Shaped Front Opening Design for Pajama Pants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pajama pants with slit openings pose difficulties for individuals with urinary urgency or incontinence and impaired hand coordination, as they are hard to open quickly and conveniently, especially for those who require urgent access to the male genitalia, and often necessitate full removal of the pants for catheter insertion or examination.
Innovation Solution
A U-shaped front-opening design in pajama pants, fastened by zippers or Velcro, allows for easy and quick access to the male genitalia, with pull rings for easy manipulation, enabling quick opening and closure, and a cover to prevent inadvertent exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional slit openings are used in pajama pants, then the garment structure remains simple and easy to manufacture, but the ease of operation deteriorates for individuals with urinary urgency or impaired hand coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The front opening is divided into multiple segments: a main opening portion and a secondary opening portion. This segmentation allows the opening to be accessed in stages, providing easier control for individuals with hand coordination limitations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening structure is extended in the vertical dimension by adding the secondary opening portion below the main opening. This dimensional extension provides additional access capability without significantly increasing horizontal complexity, allowing easier operation for urinary urgency situations.
2Area of moving object
If conventional narrow slit openings are used, then the garment maintains a streamlined appearance, but the area of access to male genitalia is insufficient for clinical procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The opening is segmented into a main opening portion and a secondary opening portion. The main opening provides adequate access area for clinical procedures, while the secondary opening can be used independently or in combination, allowing flexible access without requiring a continuously large opening that would compromise garment appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening structure is made dynamic through the ability to open only the main opening portion or both the main and secondary opening portions. This dynamic configuration allows the opening area to be adjusted based on the specific procedure needs, providing large access when required while maintaining a more closed, appearance-friendly state during normal wear.
3Loss of time
If full removal of pants is required for catheter insertion or examination, then complete access is achieved, but the time required and loss of dignity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The front opening is divided into a main opening portion and a secondary opening portion. This segmentation enables quick access by opening only the necessary portion (main or secondary) without requiring full removal of the pants, significantly reducing the time required while maintaining ease of access for catheter insertion and examination procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening structure is pre-configured with both main and secondary opening portions that can be quickly accessed. This preliminary design allows immediate access without the need for complete pants removal, reducing time loss and maintaining dignity during urgent situations.
4Ease of operation
If standard medical gowns are used, then access to male genitalia is facilitated, but the patient's pride and dignity are compromised due to physical exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The pajama pants incorporate a segmented opening system with main and secondary opening portions. This allows access to male genitalia while the patient remains clothed in their pajama pants rather than wearing a medical gown, preserving patient dignity and pride while facilitating necessary medical access.
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
Facilitates easy and dignified access for individuals with urinary urgency or incontinence, reduces the need for medical gowns, and allows caregivers to assist without removing clothing, providing a wider opening for clinical procedures while maintaining garment integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a first zipper fastening the front flap to the front half along a first zipper seam and a second zipper fastening the front flap to the front half along a second zipper seam
Implementation Method 2
a first Velcro fastening the front flap to the front half along a first Velcro seam and a second Velcro fastening the front flap to the front half along a second Velcro seam
Data Source
AI summary
Pajama wear, in the form of pants or shorts, with an easy accessed, manipulated and released covered front flap-opening for males with urinary urgency or incontinence and or impaired hand co-ordination or physical challenge. This U-shaped flap extending from immediately below the waistband to the crotch, when unfastened, falls downward to allow quick and convenient access to the male genitalia to allow for, but not limited to, urination into a hand-held urinal or a commode. A convenient access for patients and caregivers this route may also be implemented to facilitate urine collection via a hand held urinal, as well as but not limited to, catheter insertion, use care and removal and allowing for medical inspection of the genital area.