System and method for recessing a subfloor and shower stall with a recessed subfloor floor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional shower pan installations require a lip at the intersection with the surrounding floor, which hinders accessibility for the disabled and elderly and detracts from aesthetics, while recessing the subfloor is labor-intensive and costly if not properly done.
Innovation Solution
A set of differently configured brackets (main, L, and Z-brackets) are used to lower the subfloor by a predetermined amount, allowing for a curb-less transition and enabling the installation of a sloped shower pan without the need for a lip, using materials like steel or fiber-reinforced plastic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional shower pan installation is used, then the shower pan can be installed on top of the subfloor, but a lip must be created at the intersection which hinders accessibility and detracts from aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The brackets are installed on the subfloor before the shower pan is placed, creating a pre-formed recessed area. This preliminary action allows the shower pan to be installed at a lower elevation without requiring complex post-installation subfloor modification, thereby improving accessibility while controlling construction complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The brackets serve as an intermediary element between the subfloor and the shower pan. They mediate the height difference by extending downward from the subfloor surface, allowing the shower pan to rest at a lower elevation and create a seamless transition without requiring complex subfloor cutting or reconstruction
2Ease of operation
If the subfloor is recessed to enable curb-less transition, then accessibility and aesthetics are improved, but the installation becomes labor-intensive and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The recessing function is segmented into multiple discrete bracket components rather than requiring a single complex subfloor modification process. The brackets can be individually installed at different locations, allowing parallel work by multiple installers and significantly improving installation efficiency while achieving the same accessibility improvement
3Ease of manufacture
If the subfloor is recessed without proper bracing, then installation is simpler, but the load carrying capacity becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The brackets act as intermediary structural elements that transfer loads from the shower pan and water through the recessed subfloor area to the surrounding subfloor and floor joists. This intermediary support system maintains adequate load carrying capacity while preserving installation simplicity, eliminating the need for complex wooden bracing and blocking
Data Source
AI summary
A set of differently configured brackets that when secured to one or more of the floor joists, wall edges and existing subfloor lower the subfloor a predetermined amount are described. The predetermined amount is typically sufficient to permit the installation of a shower pan of appropriate slope towards a drain and permit a curb-less transition between the surrounding floor and the shower stall floor.