Shower Door Frame Assembly With Elastic Noise-Reducing Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower door assembly manufacturing processes face challenges in achieving a tight fit between frames, leading to noise and damage during installation, with existing solutions either increasing costs or compromising the aesthetic design.
Innovation Solution
A shower door assembly with an elastic connecting element that expands to push the first frame's side walls outward, ensuring a tight engagement with the second frame without the need for drilling or screws, using an elastic material like rubber or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, which maintains the aesthetic integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If frames are fitted over one another and fixed only at both ends, then installation is simple and quick, but the clearance between frames is too wide causing excessive free play and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a connecting element as an intermediary component between the first frame and second frame. This connecting element fills the clearance between frames and provides continuous support along the length of the frames, eliminating excessive free play while maintaining the simple socketed installation method without requiring drilling or additional fasteners
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the connecting element as a separate, removable component that can be independently installed within the frame assembly. This allows the connecting element to be added without modifying the frames themselves, preserving the simplicity of the original installation process while solving the fit tightness problem
2Reliability
If drilling is performed at the middle section of frames to insert screws, then frame retention is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and frame surface is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is designed to be self-retaining within the frame assembly through its elastic expansion mechanism. The element automatically secures itself between the first and second frames without requiring external drilling, screwing, or additional fastening operations, thereby eliminating the need for modified manufacturing processes and avoiding damage to frame surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the drilling and screwing operations from the assembly process by extracting the fastening function into a separate connecting element that uses elastic expansion for retention. This separates the retention function from the frame structure itself, allowing frames to remain intact while achieving secure assembly
3Object-affected harmful factors
If rubber strips are added into the clearance between frames, then noise is reduced, but trimming and installation becomes difficult and aesthetic design is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the noise-reducing element by using an elastic material that can expand and contract. This allows the connecting element to adapt to variations in frame dimensions and clearance gaps, providing consistent noise reduction and aesthetic appearance without requiring precise trimming or complex installation procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it reduces noise by filling the clearance between frames, provides structural support to eliminate free play, and maintains aesthetic design by being hidden within the frame assembly. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate noise-reducing strips and simplifies the overall assembly
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
This solution provides a cost-effective and labor-efficient method for achieving a tight, noise-reduced frame engagement without damaging the frames or exposing the connecting elements, preserving the artistic design and enhancing the structural integrity of the shower door assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic connecting element expands and pushes the two side walls of the first frame outwards with an elastic force until they abut on the two side walls of the second frame
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a shower door assembly with frame reinforcement and noise reduction, and the assembly comprises: a first frame including a base wall and two parallel side walls extending from the base wall, the base wall and the two parallel side walls of the first frame together defining a first chamber having an opening; and a second frame fitted over the first frame and including a base wall and two parallel side walls extending from the base wall, the base wall and the two parallel side walls of the second frame together defining a second chamber having an opening, the opening of the second chamber facing the opening of the first chamber. The shower door assembly further comprises at least one connecting element which is elastic and has a dimension in at least one direction larger than a distance between the two side walls of the first frame. The elastic connecting element can expand and push the two side walls of the first frame outwards with an elastic force until they abut on the two side walls of the second frame, thereby enabling fixing and generating less noise.