Shower tray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shower tray installation methods fail to create a level surface when using thin flooring materials, making it impossible to place a strainer at the same level as the flooring without visible aesthetic disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A built-in shower tray design featuring a conduit formed by mortar ramps surrounding the draining body, combined with a mold that allows for the creation of a level surface and the use of a water-proof sheet, enabling the placement of a strainer at the same level as the flooring, with a method that includes calculating the necessary height, installing the trap body, and pouring mortar to form flush ramps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If thin flooring materials (less than 4mm) are used to provide a modern aesthetic appearance, then the visual appeal and modernity of the shower tray is improved, but the ability to create a level surface with the strainer becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension solution by creating a recess in the shower tray bottom and using a conduit system with variable cross-section. The conduit has a larger cross-section at the tray level and tapers to a smaller cross-section at the drain level, allowing thin flooring materials to be laid level while the drain sits lower in the recess. This dimensional approach resolves the conflict between thin flooring aesthetics and level surface requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess is pre-formed in the shower tray bottom before installing the drain and flooring materials. This preliminary action creates the necessary space accommodation, allowing the thin flooring to be installed at a higher level while the drain sits lower in the pre-prepared recess, achieving both aesthetic thin flooring and proper drain positioning.
2Manufacturing precision
If the strainer is placed at the level of the flooring, then an even appearance across the entire shower tray is achieved, but conventional installation methods cannot accommodate thin flooring materials to achieve this level
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit acts as an intermediary element between the drain outlet and the flooring level. It provides a transition pathway that allows the strainer to be positioned at flooring level while connecting to the drain outlet lower in the recess. The conduit's variable cross-section design facilitates this intermediate positioning, making the installation feasible with thin flooring materials.
3Reliability
If conventional drain installation methods are used, then the drain can be connected to the discharge system, but the surface cannot be made level with thin flooring materials
Solution Approach 1:
The drain installation is segmented into distinct functional zones: the recess area for the drain body, the conduit area for water transition, and the flooring area for level surface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the drain connects reliably in the recess while the flooring maintains a level surface at a different elevation.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 1d~1f
Figure 1g~1h
AI summary
Shower tray comprising at least one trap body (1) coupled to at least one drain body (11), which trap body (1) is embedded in mortar (6). The shower tray comprises a conduit (22) situated on the top section of the mortar (6), surrounding the draining body (11) in such a way as to make the entire shower tray (21) even. The invention further consists of a mold and a method for installing the aforementioned shower tray.