Shower Door Clamp with Threaded Adjustment for Single-Person Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of shower door clamps in sliding door systems is typically complex, time-consuming, and costly, often requiring multiple people and lacking a simple method for height adjustment.

Innovation Solution

A shower door clamp with a screw body suspension means featuring a threaded adjustment section and a threaded guide at an acute angle, allowing for easy height adjustment and secure mounting on a carriage, which can be installed and adjusted by one person.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional shower door clamp assembly methods are used, then the mounting is secure and reliable, but the assembly process is complex, time-consuming and requires multiple people

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension means is divided into distinct functional sections: a connection section with external threading for attaching to the clamp body, and an adjustment section with internal threading for height adjustment. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall assembly process by providing clear assembly directions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The threaded connection section acts as an intermediary between the suspension means and the clamp body, providing a standardized interface that simplifies assembly. The threading mechanism serves as a mediator that converts rotational motion into linear positioning, enabling both secure mounting and height adjustment through a single component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If conventional mounting methods are used, then the shower door clamp is securely mounted, but height adjustment is complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of height adjustmentVSAvoidtime for height adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension means incorporates an adjustment section with internal threading that allows the height of the shower door clamp to be dynamically changed after installation. The threaded structure enables continuous height adjustment by rotating the adjustment section, transforming a static mounting system into a dynamic, adjustable one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The height adjustment is achieved by changing the positional parameter of the suspension means relative to the clamp body through rotational movement of the adjustment section. The threaded mechanism converts rotational displacement into linear displacement, allowing precise control of the height parameter without requiring disassembly or complex adjustment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If simple mounting methods are used, then the assembly is quick and easy, but the mounting security and reliability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidmounting security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The threaded connection utilizes helical curvature in the form of screw threads to convert rotational motion into linear clamping force. This curved threading path provides progressive engagement of the threads, ensuring secure mounting through mechanical interlocking while maintaining a simple assembly process that requires only rotational movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The threaded connection section and adjustment section are designed to be self-aligning and self-securing through their threading geometry. The external and internal threads automatically engage in the correct orientation during assembly, and the progressive thread engagement provides self-locking that ensures mounting security without requiring additional fastening steps or complex alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3295849B1Shower door clamp for a sliding door system of a shower, connected component and a method for coupling a shower door clamp with a carriage
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 GRAL SYST GMBH
  • EP3295849B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3295849B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3295849B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a shower door clamp (300) for a sliding door system of a shower, having a clamping body (320) in which a sliding door leaf (400) can be clamped, and a suspension means (310) for holding the shower door clamp (300) including a sliding door leaf clamped therein (400) on a carriage (200) by means of which the shower door clamp (300) including the sliding door leaf (400) clamped therein can be slidably mounted on a holding body (100), the suspension means (310) having an adjustment section (313) and the clamping body ( 320) have a connecting section (321), wherein the suspension means (310) can be releasably connected to the clamping body (320) via the adjustment section (313) and the connecting section (321) and can be moved relative to the clamping body (320). The invention also relates to a component assembly (1000) with a shower door clamp (300) according to the invention. The invention also relates to a method for coupling a shower door clamp (300) according to the invention to a carriage (200) in a component assembly (1000) according to the invention.