Composite Bathing Vessel Base for Strength and Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bathing vessels made from plastic materials face challenges in meeting minimum performance requirements set by standards like ANSI, particularly in terms of strength and deflection, which are not adequately addressed by current manufacturing methods.
Innovation Solution
A bathing vessel design featuring a base support with a base board encapsulated in polyurethane material, combined with a multi-layer structure of polyurethane, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and acrylic materials, along with a wood-containing composite panel base board, which eliminates the need for separate adhesives and optimizes strength and deflection performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic materials are used for bathing vessels, then manufacturing ease is improved, but strength and deflection performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a wood-containing composite panel base board with polyurethane encapsulation material. The base board contains wood fibers, binders, and fillers compressed into a panel structure, while the polyurethane material provides additional strength and encapsulates the base board. This composite construction achieves both manufacturing feasibility and enhanced strength/deflection performance meeting ANSI standards.
2Ease of operation
If separate adhesives are used to attach legs to base board, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the adhesive function into the polyurethane encapsulation material itself. The polyurethane material serves dual purposes: structural encapsulation of the base board and adhesive bonding of the legs to the base board. This eliminates the need for separate adhesive materials and simplifies the assembly process, reducing both device complexity and manufacturing steps while maintaining ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively meets ANSI standards for strength and deflection requirements, enhancing the structural integrity and reducing the need for additional adhesive materials, thereby improving the overall performance and durability of the bathing vessel.
Implementation Method 1
The base board is at least partially encapsulated in a polyurethane material
Data Source
AI summary
A bathing vessel includes a base support having a base board that extends between a top, a bottom, first and second side edges, and first and second ends. Two legs are attached on the bottom of the base board, inboard from the respective first and second side edges. The base board is at least partially encapsulated in a polyurethane material.