Curbless Shower Base With Linear Drain for Flush Tile Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional preformed shower pans face challenges in achieving a flush installation with tile floors, particularly with centered drains, due to limitations in slope maintenance and esthetic appeal, as well as interference with joists and subfloor requirements.
Innovation Solution
A shower base design featuring a subbase structure with a sloped drainage channel, a narrow drain opening, and a removable front curb, allowing for custom sizes and configurations, including a 2% slope from the sides to the center drain, and a narrow strainer size that maintains a 5 gallon per minute flow capacity, enabling a flush installation without the need for additional support structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a centered drain is used in conventional shower pans, then drainage function is provided, but it interferes with joists and subfloor requirements, preventing flush installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional centered drain configuration to a linear drain configuration that extends along the front edge of the shower base. This dimensional change from a point drain to a linear drain allows the drainage function to be distributed across multiple locations, avoiding interference with joists and subfloor structures while enabling flush installation with tile floors.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional shower pans are installed, then drainage is provided, but they cannot maintain proper slope from all sides to the drain, compromising esthetic appeal and performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drainage function into multiple locations along the linear drain, with drainage openings distributed across the front edge of the shower base. This segmentation allows water to drain from multiple points simultaneously, maintaining proper slope from all sides of the shower base while improving drainage performance and esthetic appeal.
3Productivity
If conventional drain sizes are used, then drainage capacity is sufficient, but strainer size is large and compromises esthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drainage function from a single large centralized drain and distributes it across multiple smaller drainage openings along the linear drain. This extraction allows the system to maintain sufficient total drainage capacity (5 gallon per minute flow rate) while using smaller, more aesthetically pleasing strainers that can be integrated into the design of the shower base.
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 design allows for a flush and aesthetically pleasing installation with a 2% slope from all sides, accommodating custom sizes and configurations, reducing the likelihood of joist interference and enhancing water retention, while maintaining efficient drainage capacity.
Implementation Method 1
The example shower base may also include a drain assembly in the drainage channel. A drain grate may be provided over the drainage channel. In an example, a protective structure is provided adjacent the drain assembly.
Implementation Method 2
a narrow strainer size that maintains a 5 gallon per minute flow capacity
Data Source
AI summary
A curbless shower base includes a subbase structure having a sloped floor and a zero entry. At least one side wall can be mounted flush with drywall during an installation so that a tile or other wall covering is installed flush over the at least one side wall to a floor of the subbase structure A drainage channel in the subbase structure extends substantially from a first side of the subbase structure to an opposite second side of the subbase structure. The drainage channel is sloped from the first side of the subbase structure to a drain outlet in the drainage channel, and the drainage channel is sloped from the second side of the subbase structure to the drain outlet in the drainage channel. A drain assembly has a drain outlet to connect with plumbing during the installation. A protective structure of the drain assembly at least partially surrounds the drain outlet.