Folding shower stalls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shower facilities in recreational vehicles and mobile homes are often non-existent due to space and cost constraints, leading to water damage issues when makeshift solutions are used without proper enclosures and waterproofing.
Innovation Solution
A folding shower stall design that occupies minimal space, incorporates existing plumbing infrastructure, and can be secured to various structures using attachment brackets, featuring a rotatable shower pan and wall configuration to direct water efficiently into a drain system, preventing water spillage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional shower facility is installed in a recreational vehicle, then showering capability is provided, but space is excessively consumed and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shower stall employs a folding mechanism with multiple panels that can transition between extended and retracted positions. The panels are connected through hinges and support structures that allow the shower enclosure to dynamically adjust its spatial footprint, providing full showering capability when extended and minimal space occupation when retracted.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding shower stall panels are designed to nest within each other when retracted, with each panel containing or overlapping the previous one. This nesting arrangement allows the entire shower structure to collapse into a compact form that occupies minimal space within the vehicle interior.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional shower facility is installed in a recreational vehicle, then showering capability is provided, but cost increases due to plumbing infrastructure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The folding shower stall is designed to interface with standard vehicle plumbing fixtures, allowing it to utilize existing water supply and drainage systems. The universal design enables compatibility with various vehicle types and plumbing configurations, reducing the need for custom infrastructure installation and thereby lowering overall cost.
3Area of stationary object
If makeshift shower solutions are used without proper enclosures, then space is saved, but water damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The shower stall employs flexible waterproof panels and sealing mechanisms that create an effective water barrier when extended. The panels incorporate waterproof coatings and interlocking seals that prevent water leakage, while the flexible nature of the materials allows the structure to fold without compromising the integrity of the waterproof barrier.
4Area of stationary object
If a folding shower stall is designed to occupy minimal space, then space efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shower stall is divided into multiple discrete panels that can independently fold and retract. Each panel is a separate component with its own support structure, allowing the system to achieve compact folding through sequential panel movement rather than requiring a single complex moving mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel structures are pre-configured with hinge connections and support elements positioned to automatically guide the folding sequence. This preliminary arrangement of components ensures that the panels fold in a predetermined order, reducing the need for complex control mechanisms and simplifying the overall device operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are examples of devices which include a folding shower stall including a shower pan, a shower wall and optionally a shower curtain enclosure. The shower pan includes a drain wall and drain slots configured to drain wastewater from the folding shower stall. A shower pan support disposed on a shower pan outer surface and configured to angle the shower pan directing wastewater backwards towards the drain. The shower wall including apertures configured to receive plumbing infrastructure to receive shower components including a shower head a mixer. The shower pan and the shower wall are pivotally connected via a hinge configured to allow the shower pan to rotate upward toward the shower wall to close and downward to be in an open position.