Shower installation kit and method of installing shower

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for installing a shower, particularly in barrier-free designs, are cumbersome and error-prone due to the difficulty in grouting the inclined subfloor and transitioning it to the horizontal subfloor, often requiring manual adjustments and wedges.

Innovation Solution

A shower installation kit featuring elongated side members with longitudinal flanges that define the slope of the shower floor, connected to an elongated drain, facilitating precise positioning and grouting by guiding the installation process and eliminating the need for manual adjustments or wedges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the inclined shower subfloor is grouted before mounting the profile elements, then the shower floor can be installed, but the installation process becomes troublesome and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidinstallation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The profile elements are pre-installed on the horizontal subfloor before grouting the inclined shower floor. This preliminary action provides a reference framework that guides the grouting process and ensures accurate slope formation, eliminating the need for post-grouting adjustments and reducing installation errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The profile elements serve as an intermediary reference structure between the horizontal subfloor and the inclined shower floor. They provide a physical guide that translates the desired slope geometry into the grouting process, ensuring accurate floor alignment and slope without requiring complex manual measurements during grouting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual adjustments and wedges are used to achieve proper slope, then the shower floor can be installed, but the installation time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslope accuracyVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The profile elements are pre-configured with the correct slope geometry before installation. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming manual adjustments and wedges during the grouting process, as the reference framework already embodies the desired slope, allowing workers to simply follow the pre-established guides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the transition zone between inclined and horizontal subfloors is grouted, then the shower floor is complete, but the process becomes especially troublesome and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefloor integrationVSAvoidease of grouting
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The profile elements act as an intermediary reference at the transition zone between the inclined shower floor and the horizontal subfloor. They provide a continuous geometric reference that simplifies the grouting process across the transition area, ensuring proper alignment and slope continuity without requiring complex manual adjustments or specialized grouting techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2935710B1Shower installation kit and method of installing shower
Publication Date: 2020.01.22 UNIDRAIN
  • EP2935710B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2935710B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2935710B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The shower installation kit (1) includes an elongated drain (2) adapted to be arranged at an inclined shower floor (5) and at least one elongated side member (3, 4) adapted to be arranged at right angles to the elongated drain (2) and at a side of the inclined shower floor. Each elongated side member has a longitudinal flange (6, 7) adapted to define a slope of the inclined shower floor and adapted to be positioned under a floor covering (9) of the inclined shower floor. The drain is adapted to be mounted at a distance (d) from a subfloor structure (10) of the inclined shower floor before installation of the inclined shower floor. The drain is provided with a front flange (11) adapted to be positioned under the floor covering, and the longitudinal flange of the at least one side member is connected to and arranged flush with the front flange of the drain.