Bathtub Rim Support Structure for Cantilevered Ledge Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bathtub rim assemblies with cantilevered ledges are prone to deformation and cracking due to stress from bather weight and vibration, and existing designs amplify vibrations, leading to noise and perceived poor construction quality.
Innovation Solution
A bathtub rim assembly featuring a support structure with strengthening formations and a skirt that provides additional rigidity and vibrational isolation, while maintaining a unitary appearance by overlapping the skirt with the support structure or ledge to obscure the support structure from view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a cantilevered ledge is used in a vessels-mount bathtub configuration, then the bathtub achieves an aesthetically pleasing appearance with the rim flaring out from the mounting deck, but the ledge becomes susceptible to deformation and cracking under bather weight
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple segments including vertical support members, horizontal support members, and strengthening formations that can independently bear and distribute loads. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain strength while supporting the aesthetic cantilevered design.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure employs composite construction with vertical support members, horizontal support members, and strengthening formations that work together to create a rigid framework. This composite approach enables the structure to achieve both aesthetic appearance and structural integrity.
2Shape
If the rim is designed to flare out from the mounting deck, then the bathtub achieves a desirable aesthetic appearance, but vibrations are amplified and transferred to the mounting deck causing noise
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure acts as an intermediary element between the bathtub rim and the mounting deck. It provides the necessary support for the flared appearance while isolating the mounting deck from vibration amplification, thereby mediating between aesthetic requirements and vibration control.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure extracts the vibration-isolation function from the mounting deck by providing a dedicated support framework. This separates the aesthetic flared design from the vibration transmission path, allowing the rim to flare without directly transferring vibrations to the deck.
3Strength
If a support structure is added to reinforce the cantilevered ledge, then structural integrity is improved, but the aesthetic appearance is compromised by visible support elements
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is strategically positioned and designed with varying local qualities - vertical support members provide structural function while horizontal support members and strengthening formations are configured to minimize visibility. This local differentiation allows the structure to provide reinforcement while maintaining the overall unitary appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is designed to visually blend with the bathtub's existing aesthetic language, using similar materials, colors, and design elements. This copying approach allows the support elements to be perceived as integral to the overall design rather than separate functional additions.
4Ease of operation
If the ledge is made wider to provide better support for bather weight, then usability is improved, but the cantilevered portion becomes more susceptible to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure introduces additional dimensional support by adding vertical support members and horizontal support members that extend into the space beneath the ledge. This multi-dimensional approach provides stability to the wider cantilevered ledge without compromising its usability.
Data Source
AI summary
A bathtub rim assembly is disclosed that includes a support structure that is capable of engaging a rim of a bathtub to prevent substantial deformation and damage to a cantilevered ledge of the bathtub. The rim assembly further includes a skirt that obscures the support structure to maintain a unitary appearance of the overall bathtub assembly.