Adjustable Support Frame for Leveling Screed Recesses with Line Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for leveling the screed recess for shower or bathtub installation are complex and economically infeasible, especially when dealing with uneven surfaces and hidden pipes, making it difficult to achieve standard-compliant sealing and access to lines after the screed has been poured.

Innovation Solution

A modular support frame with adjustable length and width, featuring infinitely adjustable supports and intermediate struts, allows for stepless height adjustment of support plates, ensuring a level surface for sealing and easy access to lines, enabling the installation of a new shower or bathtub with minimal effort and without damaging the seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the screed recess is completely filled with screed and sealed with the surrounding structure, then the sealing is achieved, but the accessibility to running lines is lost and the work is complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesealingVSAvoidaccessibility to lines
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by installing access ports and maintaining opening structures in the support frame before the final sealing is completed. This allows the sealing to be achieved while preserving future accessibility to running lines for maintenance or modifications, eliminating the need to break through sealed screed later.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If a mounting box is positioned on the base of the recess and screed is poured, then the drain fitting installation is simplified, but the sealing becomes complex and access to lines is impossible after pouring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrain fitting installationVSAvoidsealing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sealing system into modular components including support frames with integrated access ports, removable panels, and separate sealing zones. This segmentation allows simplified drain fitting installation while maintaining accessibility to lines through the modular access points, reducing overall sealing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If standard-compliant sealing is performed behind and under the wall, then the tub can be replaced without damaging the seal, but the work is very complex and economically infeasible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetub replacement capabilityVSAvoidsealing work
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a support frame structure as an intermediary element between the screed recess and the shower/tub installation. This intermediary provides pre-fabricated access ports and opening structures that enable future tub replacement without requiring complex behind-wall sealing, significantly reducing the sealing work complexity while maintaining replacement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3815591B1Device and method for levelling out a screed recess
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 EDM SYST GMBH
  • EP3815591B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP3815591B1 patent drawingFigure 1d~1g
  • EP3815591B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2d

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for leveling a screed recess (71) for the installation of a shower or bathtub (5), comprising a support frame (1) that accommodates at least one support plate (3), wherein the support frame (1) has a support frame (2) adjustable in length and/or width, on which at least four supports (24) continuously adjustable in length are arranged and which is provided with intermediate struts (22) whose position within the support frame (2) is adjustable and on which the at least one support plate (3) can be attached. The invention further relates to a method for leveling a screed recess (71) using such a device.