Shower Door Sweep with Pre-Angled Drain Channel for Easy Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art door sweeps for shower doors are difficult to install and require skill to set the proper angle for effective water drainage back into the shower enclosure.
Innovation Solution
A door sweep with a preset angle, featuring a two-piece arrangement including a bottom sweep with a double 'U' profile and a drain channel with a tapered concave top surface, allowing easy installation and ensuring water is collected and drained back into the enclosure regardless of the door's hinge side, without the need for additional securing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional door sweep is used, then water drainage function is achieved, but installation difficulty increases and requires skilled installer
Solution Approach 1:
The drain channel is pre-formed with a specific tapered angle during manufacturing, eliminating the need for the installer to perform angle-setting actions during installation. The component arrives ready-to-install with the correct geometry already established.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the angle parameter from a variable that requires adjustment during installation to a fixed parameter determined during manufacturing. This transforms the installation process from requiring skill-based angle setting to a simple plug-and-play installation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a door sweep with adjustable angle is used, then adaptability to different hinge sides is achieved, but installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the drain channel adjustable to adapt to different hinge sides, the invention inverts the approach by making the entire assembly reversible. The drain channel can be installed in either orientation, with the tapered end naturally directing water toward the hinge side regardless of which side the hinges are located on.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain channel design provides universal functionality for both left-hinge and right-hinge configurations using the same component. The single design serves multiple installation scenarios without requiring different parts or adjustment mechanisms.
3Reliability
If a door sweep requiring skill to set proper angle is used, then proper water drainage is achieved, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The correct drainage angle is established during the manufacturing process rather than during installation. This preliminary action ensures reliable water drainage functionality is built into the component before it reaches the installer, eliminating time-consuming angle-setting steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered geometry of the drain channel self-determines the proper drainage angle through its fixed shape. The component serves itself by having the angle already set, eliminating the need for external skill-based intervention to establish the correct drainage configuration.
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
Facilitates easy installation and ensures proper water drainage back into the shower enclosure, regardless of the door's hinge side, eliminating the need for skilled installation and ensuring consistent performance.
Implementation Method 1
designed to collect the water sliding down along the door and drain it back into the shower enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A shower door sweep includes a bottom sweep element which defines an outer trough and an inner trough. The outer trough is sized to receive the bottom edge of a shower door. A drain channel element is inserted into the inner trough of the bottom sweep element and collects water droplets sliding down along the door wall and routes them to the hinge-end of the shower door even when the door is in the open position.