Integral Shower Floor Former for Leak-Safe Linear Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shower floor formers for disabled access are difficult to install and prone to jointing and leakage issues, which hinder efficient water runoff and accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A moulded plastics former with sloping trapezoid facets and an integral linear drainage trough, featuring a support frame and perforated cover for secure waterproof flooring, and preformed holes for easy fastening, made from glass fibre reinforced plastics with thermosetting resin, allowing for improved load distribution and reduced installation complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional GRP structure with multiple layers and bonded plywood sections is used, then the shower floor former achieves sufficient strength and rigidity, but the installation becomes difficult and jointing/leakage problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (GRP structure, plywood sections, bonding materials, and waterproofing layers) into a single integral moulded component. The former is manufactured as one piece with integrated sloping facets, drainage channels, and reinforcement elements, eliminating all joints and bonds that could leak, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and installation ease.
Solution Approach 2:
While the overall structure is integrated, the drainage function is segmented into distinct channels and facets that guide water flow. The trough is divided into multiple planar facets that create defined drainage paths, allowing complex water management functionality without requiring multiple separate components, thus maintaining both reliability and ease of installation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used to create the sloping floor structure, then flexibility in installation is improved, but the number of joints increases leading to leakage problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sloping floor structure, drainage trough, reinforcement layers, and waterproofing elements into a single moulded component. This integration eliminates all joints between components while maintaining the ability to adapt to different shower configurations through the design of the integral structure itself, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and waterproofing reliability.
3Strength
If glass fibre reinforced plastics with thermosetting resin are used, then the structural strength and rigidity are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the glass fibre reinforcement, thermosetting resin matrix, and structural shaping into a single moulded component manufactured using compression moulding or similar processes. This integration achieves high structural strength through the composite material itself while eliminating the need for separate reinforcement layers and bonding operations, thereby reducing manufacturing and installation complexity despite the advanced materials used.
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
The solution minimizes jointing and leakage problems, simplifies installation, and ensures a watertight and accessible shower floor with enhanced load distribution and flexibility for both tiled and flexible flooring options.
Implementation Method 1
made from glass fibre reinforced plastics with thermosetting resin
Implementation Method 2
made from glass fibre reinforced plastics with thermosetting resin
Data Source
AI summary
A former creates a sloping profile for waste-water run off below a waterproof floor covering of a shower area. The former is made of a molded or cast plastics material and has sloping surfaces converging to define an integral linear drainage trough having upstanding side walls and a base, the base of the trough containing at least one predefined drainage hole for connection to a shower waste. The former may be covered with a flexible waterproof floor covering, the covering placed between the sides of the trough and a support frame, and retained in position by fasteners through the frame and trough. A perforated drainage cover is mounted on and secured to the support frame by fasteners.