Adjustable Shower Decorative Strip for Sloped Floor Heights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decorative strips for walk-in showers are inflexible and cannot adjust to varying floor heights or material thicknesses, leading to unsightly gaps over time due to subsurface settling, particularly with insulating layers that compact under load.
Innovation Solution
A decorative strip with a separate holding profile that allows height adjustment of the decorative strip profile, enabling the gradient and height of the visible surface to be varied, using a U-shaped cross-section for retention and attachment arms with openings for secure fixing, and adhesion structures for enhanced bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a decorative strip with fixed gradient is used to cover wedge-shaped recess walls, then the installation is simple and quick, but the strip cannot adapt to different gradients or height variations, leading to unsightly gaps over time
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative strip is divided into two separate components: a profile element with the decorative surface and a holding element for attachment. This segmentation allows the profile element to be adjusted vertically within the holding element, enabling adaptation to different gradients and heights while keeping each individual component relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the profile element and holding element is designed to be adjustable rather than fixed. The profile element can be positioned at different vertical locations within the holding element, providing dynamic adaptability to various installation conditions such as different floor heights, material thicknesses, and gradient requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple embodiments of decorative strips are produced to match different floor covering thicknesses, then adaptability to varying heights is improved, but production and storage costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal holding element design can accommodate profile elements of different heights and configurations. The holding element serves multiple functions: attachment to the substrate, vertical adjustment of the profile element, and support for various floor covering thicknesses. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to produce and store multiple specialized embodiments.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of producing different physical embodiments for different heights, the system allows parameter changes through vertical adjustment of the profile element within the holding element. The same basic components can be configured for different heights by changing the vertical position, effectively providing adaptability without requiring multiple product variants.
3Reliability
If tiles are used to cover the recess walls, then a durable and aesthetically pleasing finish is achieved, but the installation becomes very laborious and time-consuming due to the need to cut tiles
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative strip serves as a simpler, pre-fabricated alternative to custom-cut tiles. While tiles may offer superior durability, the decorative strip provides adequate aesthetic quality with much faster installation. The strip can be simply attached to cover the recess walls without requiring complex cutting and fitting operations, significantly improving installation productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The decorative strip acts as an intermediary solution between the functional requirements of floor drainage (wedge-shaped recess) and the aesthetic requirements of bathroom design. Instead of using complex tile work to achieve both drainage function and aesthetic appearance, the decorative strip mediates by providing a ready-made aesthetic covering that simplifies the installation process while maintaining visual appeal.
Data Source
AI summary
A decorative strip (10; 40; 60; 80; 100; 120; 150; 180; 230; 260; 290) for ceramic, natural stone or synthetic coverings or coatings, in particular for the formation of walk-in showers with a sloped floor, comprising a decorative strip profile (12; 42; 62; 82; 102; 122; 152; 182; 232; 262; 292) having a visible decorative surface (16; 50; 70; 92; 142; 164; 196; 236; 274; 302), characterized in that the decorative strip (10; 40; 60; 80; 100; 120; 150; 180; 230; 260; 290) has a holding profile (14; 44; 64; 84; 104; 124; 154; 184; 234; 264; 294) in which the decorative strip profile (12; 42; 62; 82; 102; 122; 152; 182; 232; 262; 292) is retained height-adjustably so as to vary the height of its visible decorative surface (16; 50; 70; 92; 142; 164; 196; 236; 274; 302).