Shower door

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shower door automatic closing systems require excessive closing force and are not universally applicable due to poor clamping mechanisms, leading to connection issues and failure during installation and use.

Innovation Solution

A shower door design featuring a closer with a sliding body that reduces the distance from the clamping seat to the rotational shaft, utilizing a fixed seat with an extension piece and clamping seat that allows for easier assembly and universal application across different door shapes and orientations, eliminating the need for frequent disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the clamping piece is positioned close to the rotational shaft and the rotating central shaft is positioned far from the rotational shaft, then the closer can be installed, but the movable door requires excessive closing force and a larger buffer is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosing forceVSAvoiddoor closing operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the rotating central shaft of the slider closer to the rotational shaft of the movable door, rather than farther away. This inversion reduces the closing force required and allows for a more compact buffer design, directly resolving the technical contradiction between closing force requirements and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If different fixed pieces are matched for shower doors with different shapes, then the closer can be installed, but universality is poor in different installation occasions

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the fixed piece with a universal structure that can accommodate different shower door shapes and installation occasions without requiring different fixed pieces. This universal design reduces device complexity and improves adaptability, allowing the same closer assembly to be used across various installation scenarios.

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

3Reliability

If the lock screw is used to fix the clamping piece through abutting against the glass sheet, then the clamping piece can be installed, but the lock screw is easy to slip on the glass sheet during door opening and closing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoiddoor opening and closing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary clamping plate between the lock screw and the glass sheet. The clamping plate provides a larger contact area and better friction grip, preventing the lock screw from slipping on the glass sheet during door operation. This intermediary element maintains connection reliability while ensuring smooth door opening and closing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the clamping piece and main body of the closer are connected by matching the lock nut with the countersunk head screw, then the parts can be assembled, but disassembly is needed when mounting in left-right interchange mode, causing connection looseness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the fastening function from the traditional lock nut-countersunk head screw connection and replaces it with a dedicated fastening structure integrated into the clamping piece assembly. This extracted design eliminates the need for disassembly during left-right interchange mounting, maintaining both installation flexibility and connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 reduces the closing force required for the movable door, enhances universality, and prevents connection failures by maintaining a secure assembly without disassembly, ensuring smooth operation and installation across various shower door configurations.

Implementation Method 1

the distance from the position where the outer end of the sliding body is hinged with the fixed seat to the rotational shaft is smaller than the distance from the clamping seat to the rotational shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Implementation Method 2

an outer end of the sliding body is hinged with the fixed seat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge mechanism: Hinge

Data Source

PatentEP3738489B1Shower door
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 IDEAL SANITARY WARE CO LTD
  • EP3738489B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3738489B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3738489B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A shower door comprises a fixed component, a movable door (100), a closer (400), a clamping seat (102) and a fixed seat (206), the fixed component being fixedly mounted in a shower room, the movable door (100) being rotatable around a rotational shaft (101), and the closer (400) comprising a main body (401) and a sliding body (402) which penetrates through a first end of the main body and is extendable and retractable along a longitudinal direction of the main body; a second end of the main body (401) is fixedly connected with the movable door (100) through the clamping piece (102), an outer end of the sliding body (402) being hinged with the fixed seat (206), and the fixed seat (206) being fixedly connected with the fixed component; the distance from the position where the outer end of the sliding body (402) is hinged to the fixed seat (206) to the rotational shaft is smaller than the distance from the clamping seat (102) to the rotational shaft (101). The closing force of the closer (400) required when the movable door (100) of the shower door is closed is greatly reduced, so that the size of the closer (400) can be reduced.