Shower Hob Screen-Retaining Base for Early Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional shower hob constructions face issues such as water leakage due to porous tile grout, unsightly and hazardous steps, and a lengthy construction process, as they require sequential application of waterproofing, bedding, and tiling before installing the shower screen.
Innovation Solution
A shower hob apparatus featuring a screen retaining portion and a base that can be fixed to the floor with an adhesive or fasteners, allowing for immediate screen installation and streamlined construction, with a tile height indicator and tapered base for efficient waterproof layer application, reducing the need for sequential construction steps and minimizing the step size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional concrete blocks or bricks are used to construct the shower hob, then the hob structure is stable and waterproof, but the step size into the shower cubicle becomes large and hazardous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the hob structure by using a thin profile design with the screen extending vertically to provide structural support, allowing the hob to be much thinner while maintaining stability and waterproofing capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The screen serves multiple functions: it acts as both the display interface and a structural support element that replaces the need for thick concrete blocks, providing both waterproof containment and structural integrity in a single component
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional sequential construction process is used (waterproofing, bedding, tiling before screen installation), then each layer can be properly applied and cured, but the construction time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is installed in advance during the waterproofing stage rather than waiting until the end after tiling is complete, allowing earlier installation while still maintaining proper curing sequences for adhesive and grout
Solution Approach 2:
The construction process is merged by installing the screen during the waterproofing phase rather than as a separate final step, combining multiple construction activities into an overlapping timeline that reduces total duration
3Ease of manufacture
If tile grout is used in traditional construction, then tiles can be affixed to the hob, but water can seep through the porous grout causing tile detachment and waterproof layer disintegration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the screen from the traditional tiled surface and places it directly on the waterproofing membrane, eliminating the need for grout in the screen area and preventing water seepage paths through porous grout joints
Data Source
AI summary
The invention includes a shower hob apparatus, a method of constructing a shower hob, and a shower hob, for at least one side of a shower cubicle. The shower hob apparatus includes a base portion and a screen retaining portion. The base portion is affixed to a floor surface and has a waterproof layer applied thereon. Tile bedding and tiles may then be constructed on top of the base portion. The resultant shower hob is formed as part of a tiled floor, and provides a relatively strong and low profile shower hob compared to previous shower hobs.