Shower enclosure system
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of custom shower enclosures is labor-intensive due to the need for fitting and coupling various components, such as backer boards, membranes, and tiles, and existing prefabricated options offer limited flexibility in size, design, and features.
Innovation Solution
A shower enclosure system comprising prefabricated panels with a layered structure and interfitting end members that allow for easy assembly without conventional fasteners, providing greater flexibility in size, design, and features, and reducing installation labor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom shower enclosures are installed using traditional methods (backer board, membrane, tiles), then design flexibility and customization options are improved, but installation labor and time requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The shower enclosure is divided into multiple pre-fabricated panels that can be independently manufactured and then assembled on-site. Each panel is a complete unit with integrated features, allowing design customization while reducing installation complexity to simple panel assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
All complex manufacturing operations (tiling, membrane installation, feature integration) are performed in advance during panel fabrication. This preliminary action transfers labor from the installation phase to the manufacturing phase, enabling quick on-site assembly while maintaining full design flexibility.
2Productivity
If prefabricated shower enclosures are used, then installation labor and time are reduced, but design options and customization flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The panel system uses universal connection mechanisms and standardized interfaces that work across all panel configurations. This allows the same efficient assembly process to accommodate various design options, sizes, and feature combinations, making the system both installable quickly and highly customizable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows customization through parameter variations in panel dimensions, materials, colors, and integrated features while maintaining the same fundamental panel-and-connection structure. This enables design flexibility without requiring changes to the installation methodology, preserving installation efficiency.
3Reliability
If multiple components (backer board, membrane, tiles) are fitted and coupled, then structural integrity and functionality are improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components (backer board, membrane, tiles, insulation, features) are merged into a single pre-assembled panel unit. This consolidation maintains all necessary structural and functional elements while reducing the number of separate installation steps to simple panel placement and connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The panels are pre-configured and pre-assembled with all necessary components and connections during manufacturing. This self-service approach transfers the complexity of multi-component assembly to the fabrication stage, leaving the installation stage with simple, straightforward panel placement operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A joint for a shower enclosure includes a first end member, having a first flange, a rearwardly extending segment spaced apart from the first flange, and a rearwardly open recess defined between the first flange and the rearwardly extending segment. The joint further includes a second end member, having a second flange, a forwardly extending segment spaced apart from the second flange, and a forwardly open recess defined between the second flange and the forwardly extending segment. A gap is defined between the rearwardly extending segment and the second flange when the first end member and the second end member are coupled. The forwardly open recess is configured to receive the rearwardly extending segment and the rearwardly open recess is configured to receive the forwardly extending segment.