Shower Bench Apparatus, Kit, and Method of Installing Thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional floating shower benches are difficult to handle and install due to their weight and require precise engineering, and they accumulate water, leading to mold growth.
Innovation Solution
A shower bench apparatus with lightweight aluminum brackets and waterproof foam boards, featuring a T-shaped design and notches for easy installation, along with a sealing strap for enhanced waterproofing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional floating shower benches utilize concrete or mortar materials as a base, then the bench provides adequate structural support and stability, but the bench becomes difficult to handle and install due to weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite construction combining aluminum brackets (metal) with foam core boards (lightweight polymeric material). This composite structure achieves the necessary structural support and load-bearing capacity while dramatically reducing the overall weight compared to traditional concrete or mortar bases, making the bench easier to handle and install
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses lightweight foam core boards instead of permanent concrete or mortar bases. These foam boards provide sufficient structural support for shower bench applications but are significantly lighter and easier to install, representing a practical substitution that balances durability with ease of installation
2Strength
If conventional floating shower benches utilize concrete or mortar materials as a base, then the bench provides adequate structural support, but the installation process becomes complex requiring precise calculation and engineering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the shower bench into separate modular components: wall-mounted aluminum brackets and foam core boards. This segmentation allows for simpler, more flexible installation compared to monolithic concrete or mortar bases, which require precise pre-planning and engineering calculations. The modular components can be independently positioned and assembled
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters from heavy, rigid concrete/mortar to lightweight aluminum and foam. This parameter change fundamentally simplifies the installation process, eliminating the need for complex structural engineering calculations while maintaining adequate support capabilities through the redesigned bracket-and-board system
3Stability of the object's composition
If the shower bench has a flat platform design, then the bench provides a stable seating surface, but water accumulates on the surface increasing the possibility of mold growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates curved edges and rounded corners on the foam core boards instead of sharp直角 (right angles). This curvature design facilitates water runoff along the curved surfaces, preventing water accumulation in corners and crevices where mold would otherwise thrive, while maintaining a stable and comfortable seating surface
Data Source
AI summary
A shower bench apparatus comprises two brackets, a first board, a second board and a sealing strap. Each of the brackets comprises a wall mounting member and a longitudinal horizontal member extending from a first surface of the wall mounting member. The longitudinal horizontal member comprises an upper surface adjacent to the first surface of the wall mounting member, and the upper surface being non-orthogonal relative to the first surface. The first board comprises a first bottom surface with two notches that correspond to the longitudinal horizontal member. The upper surface of each of the two brackets is configured for coupling to a corresponding notch of the two notches. A second bottom surface of the second board is coupled to the first top surface of the first board to form a foundation and the sealing strap extends along portions of a periphery of the foundation.