Composite Shower Floor Structure for Quick Assembly and Waterproofing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shower floor structures are time-consuming and costly to assemble, particularly due to the labor-intensive process of laying tiles on a rigid foam support covered with mortar and sealing compounds.

Innovation Solution

A shower floor structure featuring a composite material with a layered design, comprising a plastic lower layer, a metal middle layer, and an optional metal upper layer, preassembled as a structural unit, with a plastic carrier and a water-impermeable film seal for quick and cost-effective installation, and a textured anti-slip surface for enhanced safety and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid foam support covered with mortar and sealant is used for shower floor construction, then water sealing is achieved, but installation time and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater sealingVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the support structure, waterproofing layer, and shower floor into a single integrated composite component. The foam support and plastic layer are bonded together as one piece, eliminating the need for separate mortar application and sealing steps, thus reducing installation time while maintaining waterproofing reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The waterproofing layer and support structure are pre-assembled and bonded together in the factory before delivery to the construction site. This preliminary assembly eliminates on-site mortar application and sealing work, significantly reducing installation time and labor costs while ensuring consistent waterproofing quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If traditional multi-layer construction with mortar and sealant is used, then water sealing is achieved, but construction complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater sealingVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional layers (foam support, plastic waterproofing layer, and shower floor) are merged into a single pre-assembled composite component with integrated bonding, reducing construction complexity from multiple separate installation steps to a single placement operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite structure combining foam material for support and plastic material for waterproofing, bonded together as an integrated unit. This composite construction provides both structural support and waterproofing functionality in one component, simplifying the overall construction process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Weight of moving object

If a lightweight foam support is used, then installation ease is improved, but structural stability and load-bearing capacity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport weightVSAvoidload-bearing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite structure where the lightweight foam support is bonded to a plastic layer, forming an integrated component that combines the lightweight properties of foam with the structural strength and waterproofing capabilities of plastic, maintaining both light weight and adequate load-bearing capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3213913B1Shower bottom and shower bottom structure
Publication Date: 2020.07.15 SCHULTE DUSCHKABINENBAU
  • EP3213913B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3213913B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4

AI summary

A shower floor and a shower floor structure are proposed, with the shower floor being designed as a composite material with a first layer of plastic between two metal layers and that the shower floor structure also has a foam support, with a drain being let into the support and the shower floor covering the drain.