Inward-Swinging Bath Door With Edge-Supported Load Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tub designs with pivot-bearing doors risk overloading when used as support handles during entry or exit, leading to potential damage and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
The door is designed to pivot at least 90 degrees with a door limiting beam that extends beyond the tub width, allowing it to rest on the opposite tub edge, distributing the load and providing additional support, while also serving as a seat or shelf when open, thus reducing the load on the pivot bearing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door is designed to pivot open for easy entry and exit, then ease of operation is improved, but the pivot bearing becomes vulnerable to overloading when users use the door as a support handle
Solution Approach 1:
The door limiting beam acts as an intermediary load-bearing element between the door and the tub structure. When the door is open and users apply load to it, the beam transfers this load to the tub edge rather than allowing direct transmission to the pivot bearing, thus protecting the bearing from overloading while maintaining ease of door operation
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the load-bearing function from the vertical pivot axis (where the bearing operates) to the horizontal plane by extending the door limiting beam beyond the tub width. This dimensional shift allows the beam to rest on and transfer loads to the tub edge, creating a separate load path that bypasses the pivot bearing
2Reliability
If the door limiting beam is extended beyond the tub width to provide load support, then the pivot bearing is protected from overload, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door limiting beam is designed to serve multiple functions: it limits the door's pivot angle, provides structural support when the door is open, and acts as a load-bearing element that protects the pivot bearing. By combining these functions into a single component, the design avoids adding extra separate parts, thus minimizing device complexity while achieving reliable pivot bearing protection
Solution Approach 2:
The door limiting beam merges the door stopping function with the load-bearing support function. Instead of having separate components for limiting door movement and supporting user weight, the beam integrates both roles, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the overall door structure
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
A tub (1) with two side walls (2) and (3) running in its longitudinal direction, which can be arranged parallel or diverging, has at least one access opening (5) on at least one side wall (3) and a door (6 ). The door (6) can be pivoted about a pivot bearing through at least a right angle into the interior of the tub (1), the door width being smaller than the tub width and an upper door limiting bar (7) being longer than the clear inner tub width, see above that it can be supported on a shoulder (8) or edge area of the side wall (2) opposite the door opening (5). Correspondingly higher loads can be absorbed by the open door (5), either when supporting a person using the tub (1) or when supporting a seat or shelf (9) (see FIG. 1).