What makes this design different or better?
The Problem For a majority of the world's population, especially those in later middle age and older, the ritualistic task of cleansing ones self is not as safe and simple as it should be. For most of us, a morning shower washes away the grime and prepares us for the day ahead. The shower provides ease and access to washing the ventral side of the body above the waist, the head, neck, arms and crotch, but access to the legs, below the knee, and feet is restricted. In order to clean these areas, one must exert undue stress and strain, as well as assume hazardous postures on a wet surface. As the body ages, assuming these positions necessary to clean trouble areas becomes difficult. If the shower's surface offered the user greater utility, the trouble areas would be as easy to clean as the rest of the body. This added utility could take the form of a set of attachable tools that would facilitate easier cleaning of the feet and legs. It should be easily removable, so combination baths/showers can effectively function as baths, and easy to clean, install and use.

The Solution The Aqua Stalk shower safety system provides a low-cost, minimally invasive safety environment for a dedicated or combination (bathtub and shower) shower. Like many "safety" products currently on the market, the Aqua Stalk system provides an equal or even heightened level of safety as other products such as grab bars, handles and flooring/grip systems with two exceptions. The first exception is that the Aqua Stalk requires minimal invasion for installation. This means that the user doesn't have to completely rip up and remodel their existing bathroom in order for proper installation. The system consists of an extended stainless steel support bar and is supported on the floor by an adhesive backed anchor on which the stalk and tile system interface. The anchor has a small footprint and remains attached permanently. A similar wall-mounting assembly supports the system in the mid-torso region. The wall-mounting assembly is the only piece in the system that requires invasion into the wall. This mounting arrangement provides the necessary mechanical requirements while also allowing for easy and fast removal. If the system is to be used in a combination bathtub and shower, the system can be removed in approximately 30 seconds with the small upper and lower anchors being the only visible trace. The second exception is that the system provides a look and feel not usually associated with safety products, a technologically able yet user friendly appearance and feel through the use of appropriate materials and visual design.