Shower pan including molded rib structure having varying thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Molded shower floors with varying thicknesses face challenges in achieving uniform structural rigidity due to uneven rib heights and spacings, leading to inconsistent bending resistance across the structure.
Innovation Solution
The shower pan features a rib structure with varying rib heights and spacings across different zones, where the spacing between ribs is determined by the cube of their height, ensuring uniform resistance to bending by optimizing rib configuration and spacing to compensate for thickness variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a grid structure is used to reduce material and improve strength, then material usage decreases and strength improves, but the structure cannot accommodate varying shower pan thicknesses uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the rib spacing according to the local thickness requirements at different positions in the shower pan. The controller adjusts the spacing between ribs based on the specific thickness needed at each location, allowing the structure to accommodate varying pan thicknesses while maintaining uniform structural rigidity throughout.
2Ease of manufacture
If evenly spaced ribs are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but structural rigidity varies due to varying pan thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static uniform rib spacing to dynamic variable rib spacing. The controller dynamically adjusts the spacing between ribs based on the local pan thickness requirements, enabling the structure to adapt to varying thicknesses while maintaining consistent bending resistance across different regions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If rib height varies to accommodate thickness changes, then adaptability to varying thickness improves, but structural rigidity becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adjusting rib spacing according to local thickness requirements. Regions with greater thickness have wider rib spacing, while regions with lesser thickness have narrower spacing, compensating for the height variations and maintaining uniform structural rigidity across the entire shower pan.
4Quantity of substance
If material is reduced through optimized rib configuration, then weight and material cost decrease, but structural performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the spacing parameter of ribs based on local thickness requirements. By carefully controlling the spacing between ribs in different regions, the design achieves uniform bending resistance with minimized material usage, preventing both over-engineering in thick regions and under-engineering in thin regions.
Data Source
AI summary
A molded shower pan includes a base having a drain opening. A plurality of strengthening ribs extend downwardly from the base wherein the spacing between adjacent ribs is a function of rib height.