Shower Floor Etched Surface Design for Wet Slip Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bath and shower floor surfaces, particularly those made of polymeric materials, have a low wet coefficient of friction, leading to a high risk of slipping, and existing solutions like sand-coated coatings or textured decals are unattractive, difficult to clean, and short-lived.

Innovation Solution

A shower floor surface is created with a combination of etched and unetched portions, where the etched area has a higher coefficient of friction when wet and the unetched area has a higher coefficient of friction when dry, achieved through techniques like laser etching, sand blasting, or chemical etching, ensuring both safety and aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a polymeric floor surface is used, then it provides aesthetic appeal and ease of cleaning, but it has a low wet coefficient of friction leading to high slipping risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appeal and ease of cleaningVSAvoidanti-slip performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating distinct etched and unetched zones on the floor surface. The etched portions provide high wet friction for safety, while the unetched portions maintain the inherent aesthetic and cleaning properties of the polymeric material. This spatial differentiation of surface properties resolves the contradiction between safety and aesthetics/cleanability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite surface structure by combining etched and unetched regions within the same polymeric floor surface. This composite approach allows the floor to exhibit both the high friction characteristics of textured surfaces and the smooth, cleanable properties of polished polymeric surfaces, thereby resolving the contradiction between anti-slip performance and ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If sand-coated coatings or textured decals are applied to increase friction, then anti-slip performance improves, but they become unattractive, difficult to clean, and short-lived

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanti-slip performanceVSAvoidaesthetic appeal and maintainability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the friction-enhancing function from external coatings or decals and integrates it directly into the polymeric floor surface through laser etching. By removing the need for separate coating layers and creating the texture within the base material itself, the solution eliminates the problems of coating deterioration, difficulty in cleaning, and aesthetic degradation while maintaining high anti-slip performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the floor surface self-sufficient by integrating the anti-slip texture directly into the polymeric material through etching, eliminating the need for external coatings or decals that require separate application and maintenance. The etched surface serves both aesthetic and functional purposes simultaneously, reducing maintenance requirements and extending service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the entire floor surface is etched to increase wet friction, then anti-slip performance improves, but the aesthetic appearance and ease of cleaning deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewet coefficient of frictionVSAvoidaesthetic appeal and cleanability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration reduces the risk of slipping, provides a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, and offers various design options while maintaining cleanliness and effective anti-slip protection in both wet and dry conditions.

Implementation Method 1

selectively etching, by a laser, directly into the floor surface to form a first portion having a surface texture with a depth

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser etching: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS20240374086A1Bath and shower floor with Anti-slip surface and method of forming same

Publication Date: 2024.11.14 KOHLER CO(US)

AI summary

A shower receptor includes a base having a floor surface configured for a user to stand on. The floor surface includes a first portion having a first coefficient of friction and a second portion having a second coefficient of friction. The first portion is an etched area of the floor surface that defines a surface texture having a depth. The second portion is an unetched area of the floor surface. The first coefficient of friction of the first portion has a first value when the first portion is wet and the second coefficient of friction of the second portion has a second value when the second portion is wet. The first value is higher than the second value.