Bathroom Screen Fastening and Sealing for Angular Configurations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bathroom screens face hygiene issues due to exposed movement wheels, which are difficult to clean and prone to deterioration, and inadequate sealing between the fixed panel and the wall, especially in angled designs where correct alignment is challenging.

Innovation Solution

The bathroom screen features impermeable protective covers for the movement wheels and adjustable fastening means with a securing profile and edge profile that can be glued to the fixed panel, allowing for angular configurations without full-wall attachment, ensuring protection from water and dirt and facilitating proper sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the movement wheels are left uncovered for ease of movement, then the mobile panel can move smoothly along the guides, but the wheels are exposed to water and dirt causing hygiene problems and faster deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement of mobile panelVSAvoidexposure to water and dirt
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a cover made of transparent or translucent material that encloses the movement wheels. This flexible shell approach allows the wheels to move smoothly while protecting them from water and dirt. The cover is designed to be impermeable to water and dirt particles, solving the hygiene problem while maintaining visibility and not interfering with the movement function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional securing profiles fastened by screws are used to attach fixed panels to walls, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but they do not suitably solve vertical alignment errors and guarantee correct sealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of fastening structureVSAvoidvertical alignment and sealing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an adjustable fastening system where the securing profile can be positioned at different heights and angles. The system includes adjustment mechanisms that allow workers to correct vertical alignment errors and achieve proper sealing. This dynamic adjustment capability transforms a static, imprecise connection into a flexible, precision-adjustable system that compensates for wall irregularities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary sealing element between the fixed panel and the wall. This intermediary component serves as a mediator that ensures proper sealing even when there are alignment errors. The sealing element compensates for gaps and irregularities, guaranteeing correct sealing without requiring perfect vertical alignment of the supporting wall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If angled screens are designed with two fixed panels on perpendicular planes, then angular configurations are achieved, but sealing of two outer fixed panels to each supporting wall becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular configuration capabilityVSAvoidsealing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a universal sealing profile that can be used on both straight and angled bathroom screens. This multi-functional sealing solution works for different configurations (straight and angular) without requiring different sealing mechanisms. The same sealing profile ensures proper sealing for two outer fixed panels in angled screens, reducing complexity despite the angular configuration requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3238586B1Bathroom screen
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 ALTURA LEIDEN HLDG BV
  • EP3238586B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3238586B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~3b
  • EP3238586B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~5

AI summary

A bathroom screen comprising at least: - a fixed panel (1) provided with fastening means for fastening to a supporting wall (P); - a mobile, movable panel (2), provided with at least one upper support (3) and one lower support (4), each one of which is provided with wheels (31, 41) for moving along horizontal guides (51, 52), and fixed supports (61, 62) for guiding the movable panel. The upper and lower supports (3, 4) comprise protective impermeable covers (32, 42) which cover the top and sides of the movement wheels (31, 41). The fastening means of the fixed panel (1) comprise: - an anchor profile (11) fixed to a supporting wall (P); - an edge profile (12), and means for adjusting (13) the position of the edge profile (12) with respect to the anchor profile (11)