Catch
Shower Hair Trap
Fall 2022
Catch prevents clogs by collecting hair and grime, keeping drains cleaner and reducing odors and plumbing issues.
No one likes a clogged shower drain.
It’s unsanitary, time consuming, and can be costly.
Shower routines are being ruined by clogs.
Catch implores a cleaner and preventative hair clog and grime system.
Existing Solutions
Current solutions come with trade-offs, whether in safety, convenience, or sustainability.
Current Cleaning Process
Project Goals
Seamless Installation
The design should be simple to install without tools or hassle.
Easy Maintenance
Cleaning should be quick and easy to prevent procrastination.
Effectiveness
It should reliably prevent clogs, eliminating the need for plumbers.
Meet Tessa
A persona based on real interviews
“I just want something that works without getting in my way or making a mess.”
Pain Points
Struggles with bulky or obtrusive drain solutions after a past slip in the shower.
Finds cleaning hair traps unpleasant and procrastinates, leading to slow drains.
Goals:
Wants a safe solution that won’t be a tripping hazard.
Desires a device that is easy to clean.
Interview Insights
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Longer hair clogs drains more easily, while product buildup and body dirt create odors.
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Renters do not want to cause permanent changes or damages.
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Raised drain covers create a tripping hazard, especially for older adults and those with mobility or vision impairments.
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Many avoid cleaning hair traps because it’s unpleasant, leading to slow drains and backups.
Exploring How to Trap Hair
Where do the parts live and work without being obstructive?
Experiments to Breakdown Hair
How can hair turn into small pieces to flow down the drain?
No experiments were successful
Shifting the focus to the interaction of catching and disposing of hair and grime.
While eating a GoGo SqueeZ, I was inspired by how twisting the cap pushes itself off the pouch. I wanted to incorporate this mechanism into the hair trap’s removal process for easier cleaning.
Unique Inspiration
Proof of Concept
Drain Simulation
Placed prototype in acrylic enclosure to simulate a shower drain.
Poured mixture of water, hair and grime.
Bucket placed underneath had trace amounts of hair.
Disassembly
Removed grate + catcher unit out of the base.
Lip squeegeed grime out.
Squeezed catcher to remove from grate.
Material Captured
Catcher caught majority of hair.
Washed off grime.
Flipped flexible catcher inside out to dump content.
How it Works
1 - Pop
Rotate grate to pop up for easy removal.
2 - Scrape
Pull out the grate + catcher unit.
3 - Squeeze to Unlock
Squish catcher to pull apart from grate.
4 - Flip
Turn catcher inside out to dispose of contents.
Part Breakdown
CMF to Blend with Environment
Packaging
Project Takeaways
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Several attempts to break down hair for drainage raised safety concerns.
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Testing my design was crucial, so I 3D printed the base and grate in PLA and the catcher in TPU to simulate flexibility.
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Inspiration can strike at any moment. One late night, while enjoying a GoGo SqueeZ, an idea sparked.