Profile rail for shower trays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shower shelves with integrated lighting solutions face issues with permanent and safe installation due to the combination of electricity and water in bathrooms, leading to inadequate and unstable lighting.

Innovation Solution

A profile rail system with an upper vertical fixing section and a horizontal support section that accommodates a lighting unit without additional fastening, allowing for easy and secure installation on triangular or polygon-shaped shower shelves, featuring a one-piece design with parallel webs and a drip edge, and routing the power cable on the shelf's upper side for protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If adhesive strips are used to attach light bulbs to the profile, then installation is simplified, but the light bulbs are not sufficiently secured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidlight bulb security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A profile rail is introduced as an intermediary component between the shower shelf and the light source unit. The profile rail provides mechanical support and positioning through its fixing section attached to the shower shelf and support section that holds the light source unit, replacing the inadequate adhesive strip solution while maintaining ease of installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the profile rail structure is made more complex to securely hold the light source unit, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight source unit securityVSAvoidprofile rail structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The profile rail is segmented into distinct functional sections: a fixing section for attachment to the shower shelf, a support section for holding the light source unit, and connecting elements. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function while keeping the overall structure relatively simple and manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If additional fixing means are added to secure the light source unit, then reliability improves, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight source unit securityVSAvoidinstallation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support section of the profile rail is designed to hold the light source unit without requiring additional fixing means. The structural configuration of the support section itself provides the necessary retention, allowing the light source unit to be secured through the profile rail's inherent design rather than through extra fastening components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3708050B1Profile rail for shower trays
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 GROSS BOLTING MANUEL
  • EP3708050B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3708050B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3708050B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

A profile rail 1 is used for installation on a shelf 5 suitable for wet rooms to hold items such as bottles of shower gel, shampoo, etc. The profile rail 1 has an upper fixing section for attaching the profile rail 1 to the shelf 5 and a support section 3 running parallel to and below the base 6 of the shelf 5. A free space 7 remaining between the support section 3 and the base 6 of the shelf 5 is used to hold a light source unit 8.