Jun 26 2022 07:14 AM
So as I mentioned in another thread we recently had 1 bathroom redone, and it's nice and delivered an unexpected base-psychological benefit I hadn't expected--this dumpy place we bought just before the pandemic, with big plans to fix up, sat un-fixed-up for so long due to a combo of Wifey Bucket's surprise layoff (literally 2 weeks before the pandemic) and the pandemic itself, long enough so that the dreary conditions here subtly colonized my mood and outlook, and since this has been done, I feel like I'm thinking more clearly. I dunno.
But there's 1 thing. It's a small bathroom, and in order to fit everything we wanted in--a slightly larger tub, a cantilver-ish sink with a small counter and storage, and a toilet--we didn't leave quite enough room for a mounted toilet paper holder, at least one that could be easily accessed.
Here's what we're looking at. (from left sink, toilet, tub)
There's nowhere on the rear wall between the sink & toilet that works, you'd break your arm, and for Lunchpail, who's a lefty, forget it. We tried mounting a holder beneath the sink but that was also awkward for a variety of reasons. The wall opposite this view is 1) about a half-foot too far away; 2) where the heat comes in and towels are hung, so not really ideal either.
Obvuiously a freestanding holder is the right solution but-- even the telescoping ones at home depot don't reduce height enough to be stored where it should be--tucked under that sink--then moved into the right position. Otherwise you've got this thing standing in the middle of the bathroom floor, it'd get wet, be in the way etc.
What we really need, and I need to someone to invent or show me how to build -- a simple robotic standing toilet paper holder that
1) moves when needed along the floor to the right position on the floor
2) telescopes as needed so as to grow in height, then reduce when not in use
3) move back to its out-of-sight "home" robot charging station when not in use
4) (not completely necessary but a HUGE bonus) do all the above when motion is sensed relating to human ass pressure on the toilet seat
5) do so without fucking up the floor or creating anything that interferes with a tight space
This obviously is something I could hack with one of lunchpails remote-control cars, duct tape and a few clothes hangers, but Wifey Bucket, who's already against the idea of my trying to solve the problem this way, would hate that even more, so I need an elegant and simple design that works.
I'm certain that as robotic challenges go, this is a fairly simple one, but seriously -- how would go about getting one invented if you're ignorant of robotics and elegant design?
