Low-Profile Shower Floor Assembly With Lateral Support Feet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shower floor constructions, particularly double floors with support profiles and drainage systems, are cumbersome to assemble due to their height and the obstruction of drain lines by support feet, posing challenges in usability and accessibility, especially for the disabled.

Innovation Solution

A shower floor design featuring support profiles with connecting elements that protrude laterally from the carrier profiles, allowing support feet to be positioned below them, reducing overall height and simplifying assembly, while also incorporating a drainage device connected to the support profiles and surface elements, which can be cut to size for site adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If support feet are placed under support profiles, then structural stability is achieved, but assembly complexity increases and handling becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting elements are moved from a vertical arrangement (under the support profiles) to a lateral arrangement (protruding from the side surfaces of support profiles). This dimensional change allows support feet to be positioned without interfering with drain lines while maintaining structural stability, and significantly improves assembly handling by making the connection points more accessible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If support feet are positioned to avoid drain lines, then assembly ease is improved, but overall height increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By relocating connecting elements from vertical to lateral positioning, the support feet can extend downward without being obstructed by drain lines, yet the overall height is controlled because the connecting elements themselves protrude sideways rather than extending vertically underneath the support profiles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If connecting elements protrude laterally from support profiles, then handling during assembly is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling during assemblyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting elements serve multiple functions: they laterally protrude from support profiles to enable easy handling and positioning during assembly, while simultaneously providing attachment points for support feet and maintaining structural connections. This multi-functionality justifies the slight increase in device complexity by delivering significant assembly ease benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enhances assembly ease and reduces overall height, improves handling during construction, and provides a versatile and stable shower floor system with vibration insulation, ensuring efficient installation and reduced noise transmission.

Implementation Method 1

The support feet preferably have an element via which vibration and sound insulation or vibration decoupling takes place, so that the noise of the 'pattering' water is not introduced into the house structure.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration insulation: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3061371B1Shower bottom
Publication Date: 2018.08.01 ACO SEVERIN AHLMANN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3061371B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3061371B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3061371B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8

AI summary

Shower bases are generally known, which are provided for essentially flush installation in a surrounding floor. A shower floor is proposed, comprising support profiles (10) with top, bottom and side surfaces, support feet (20) which can be fastened to the support profiles (10) by means of connecting elements (30, 30') and can be set up on a subfloor, surface elements that can be walked on that can be placed on the carrier profiles (10) and a drainage device (8) for draining shower water, which can be connected to the surface elements and/or the carrier profiles (10). The connecting elements (30) can be fastened to the side surfaces of the carrier profiles (10) so that they protrude in such a way that the support feet (20) project downwards next to the carrier profiles (10) in the direction of the underbody. This ensures particularly easy handling with a low overall height.