Multi-Joint Shower Arm for Combined Height and Angle Adjustment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanitary wall mounting devices for shower heads lack design advantages, ease of use, functionality, and robustness, as well as integrated solutions for adjustable height and angle adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A sanitary wall mounting device with a multi-joint mechanism that allows simultaneous adjustment of height and angle of a shower head through a pivotally movable mechanism, featuring two pivot arms with parallel pivot axes and self-locking capabilities, enabling easy and robust adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a multi-joint mechanism is used to adjust shower head height and angle, then adjustability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines height adjustment and angle adjustment functions into a single integrated multi-joint mechanism. The two pivot arms work together as one unified system, allowing both height and angle to be adjusted simultaneously through a single operation, rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-joint mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides height adjustment, angle adjustment, and self-locking capability all within a single device structure. The pivot arms are designed to perform both positioning and locking functions, eliminating the need for additional separate components.

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

2Measurement precision

If separate adjustment mechanisms are used for height and angle, then adjustment precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment precisionVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges height adjustment and angle adjustment into a single coordinated motion of the multi-joint mechanism. When the user operates the mechanism, both the vertical position and angular orientation are adjusted simultaneously through the coupled movement of the two pivot arms, achieving precise positioning with one action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism allows dynamic adjustment where the relationship between height and angle changes continuously during operation. The pivot arms can be positioned at any angle within their range, and the self-locking feature maintains precision at each position while allowing easy repositioning when force is applied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a robust multi-joint mechanism is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverobustnessVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The multi-joint mechanism incorporates self-locking features that automatically maintain the adjusted position without requiring additional locking components or complex control systems. The friction and geometry of the pivot arms themselves provide the locking action, making the system self-sufficient for maintaining position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the locking function from separate locking mechanisms and integrates it directly into the pivot arm structure itself. The self-locking capability is built into the basic structure of the joints, eliminating the need for additional locking devices and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Manufacturing precision

If parallel pivot axes are used in the multi-joint mechanism, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot arms are designed as integrated composite structures that combine the pivot joint, locking mechanism, and structural support into single components. This integration simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of separate parts that need to be precisely aligned, while maintaining the parallel axis geometry for accurate operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4711534A1Sanitary wall-holder device and sanitary shower device
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 HANS GROHE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4711534A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4711534A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4711534A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a shower head, comprising a wall connection unit (4) with a wall-mountable base body (5) having at least one fluid inlet (8), a shower connection unit (12) designed for mechanical and fluidic coupling of a shower head and comprising a connection body (13) with at least one fluid outlet (18, 19), a multi-joint mechanism (38) designed to pivotally hold the shower connection unit (12) on the wall connection unit (4) in a pivot plane (SE), and at least one fluid guide from the at least one fluid inlet (8) of the wall connection unit (4) via the multi-joint mechanism (38) to the at least one fluid outlet (18, 19) of the shower connection unit (12).According to the invention, the multi-joint mechanism (38) is designed to hold the shower connection unit (12) pivotably in the pivot plane (SE) on the wall connection unit (4) in a combined height- and angle-adjustable manner, and the multi-joint mechanism (38) comprises two pivot arms (20, 21) which are pivotably held on the wall connection unit (4) at one end about parallel wall-side pivot axes (SA1, SA2) and are pivotably coupled to the shower connection unit (12) at the other end about parallel shower-side pivot axes (SA3, SA4).