Easy-to-clean lower slide device for shower door

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shower door designs are aesthetically unappealing due to visible sliding grooves and pulleys, and cleaning the dirt between the lower track and door sheets is difficult due to the complex separation process.

Innovation Solution

A shower door lower sliding device featuring a pulley holder with elastic latches and a control cover that allows easy disengagement from the pulley support for cleaning, utilizing magnetic members for attraction and a spring for re-engagement, hiding the sliding groove for a more attractive appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sliding groove is located on the side of the lower track, then the pulleys can slide smoothly, but the sliding groove and sliding wheels become visible when looking outward, affecting aesthetics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesliding smoothnessVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the sliding groove from the visible exterior and relocates it to the interior of the lower track. The pulleys now slide within this hidden interior groove, making the sliding mechanism invisible from the outside, thus resolving the contradiction between operational smoothness and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the lower track and movable door sheets are firmly connected, then the structure is stable, but it becomes troublesome to separate them for cleaning fouling dirt

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcleaning convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the connection between the lower track and movable door sheets by introducing a detachable fastening mechanism. This allows the structure to maintain stability during normal use while enabling easy separation for cleaning purposes, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and cleaning convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transforms the static firm connection into a dynamic connection that can switch between locked and unlocked states. The detachable fastening mechanism allows the connection to be firm during operation but easily separable when cleaning is needed, resolving the contradiction between stability and cleaning ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a detachable connection mechanism is added to facilitate cleaning, then cleaning becomes easier, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning convenienceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies the self-service principle by designing a detachable fastening mechanism that can be easily operated by the user without requiring additional tools or complex procedures. The mechanism automatically maintains the locked state during normal use and can be quickly released for cleaning, achieving cleaning convenience without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Facilitates easy cleaning by allowing simple separation of the door sheet from the lower track, maintaining a hidden pulley system for improved aesthetics and functionality.

Implementation Method 1

a spring is provided between the control cover and the pulley holder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

utilizing magnetic members for attraction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3312373B1Easy-to-clean lower slide device for shower door
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 IDEAL SANITARY WARE CO LTD
  • EP3312373B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3312373B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3312373B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4c

AI summary

The present invention discloses an easy-to-clean shower door lower sliding device, comprising a pulley holder (10), a pulley support (20) and a pulley (30) mounted on the pulley support, and a disengageable connection is formed between the pulley holder (10) and the pulley support (20), a control cover (50) reciprocally movable relative to the pulley holder is provided on the pulley holder (10), and a reset member is provided between the control cover (50) and the pulley holder (10); the pulley support (20) has a cavity for receiving the pulley holder (10), wherein the pulley holder (10) comprises a holder body and elastic latches (102,103) provided on both sides thereof, the pulley holder (10) is engaged with the pulley support (20) via the elastic latches, and the pulley holder (10) is disengageable from the pulley support (20) by compressing the elastic latches (102,103) by the control cover (50).