Recessed Ceiling Shower Head with Adjustable Cartridge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shower head installations that are fixed flush with the wall or ceiling complicate recessed installations and hinder the simultaneous mounting of accessories like lights, as they require a false ceiling for proper positioning and cannot be adjusted in height to contact structural plasterboard parts.

Innovation Solution

A recessed shower head design with a recess body and adjustable fixing means that allows the spray-delivery cartridge to be positioned relative to the ceiling plane, enabling recessed installation and accommodating accessories by using suspension chains or direct brackets for flexible mounting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the shower head is fixed flush with the wall or ceiling, then the installation is simple, but recessed installation becomes complicated or impossible and accessories cannot be mounted simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidrecessed installation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shower head system is divided into two separate components: a recess body (1) that is installed flush with the ceiling and a spray-delivery cartridge (7) that is mounted inside the recess body. This segmentation allows the recess body to be installed independently using simple flush mounting methods, while the cartridge can be positioned recessed within the body, enabling both installation simplicity and recessed installation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spray-delivery cartridge (7) is nested inside the recess body (1), which itself is nested within the ceiling structure. This nested arrangement allows the cartridge to be positioned recessed relative to the ceiling plane while the outer body maintains flush contact with the ceiling, resolving the contradiction between simple installation and recessed installation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If the shower head is fixed flush with the wall, then installation is straightforward, but simultaneous mounting of accessories like lights is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation straightforwardnessVSAvoidaccessory mounting capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the shower head into a recess body and a cartridge, the body can be installed flush with the ceiling providing a stable mounting surface, while the cartridge and its accessories (such as lighting bodies) can be independently positioned and mounted within the recessed space, enabling simultaneous accessory mounting without compromising installation straightforwardness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If the shower head requires a false ceiling for proper positioning, then positioning is precise, but installation complexity increases and masonry parts may be damaged during finishing operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The recess body (1) is pre-installed flush with the ceiling during the rough-in phase before finishing operations, establishing the precise positioning framework early. This allows the spray-delivery cartridge (7) to be mounted later inside the recess body after finishing operations are complete, eliminating the risk of damaging completed masonry parts while maintaining positioning precision through the pre-installed body structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The separation into recess body and cartridge allows the body to be installed early for positioning precision, while the cartridge can be installed later without requiring false ceiling construction, reducing installation complexity and avoiding damage to finished surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If the spray-delivery cartridge is mounted before finishing operations, then installation is efficient, but masonry parts may be damaged during finishing operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation efficiencyVSAvoiddamage to masonry parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The recess body (1) is installed during the rough-in phase for efficient positioning, while the spray-delivery cartridge (7) is designed to be mounted separately after finishing operations. This segmentation protects the completed masonry parts from damage during finishing operations, as the cartridge is installed within the protected recess body rather than directly on exposed masonry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recess body is preliminarily installed to create a protected cavity, allowing subsequent cartridge installation after finishing operations without exposing masonry parts to damage risks, thus maintaining installation efficiency while preventing harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2570557B1Set-in ceiling-mounted shower head
Publication Date: 2016.08.24 ANTONIO LUPI DESIGN
  • EP2570557B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2570557B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2570557B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A set-in ceiling-mounted shower head, comprising a recess body (1) provided with fixing means (11) for fixing to a false ceiling (S) and fixing means (12) for fixing to a ceiling wall (P), wherein the body (1) defines an internal compartment (2) and a bottom surface (6) parallel to the plane of the false ceiling (S) and constituting a reference plane for the position of installation of a spray-delivery cartridge (7) within the recess compartment (2).