Anti-slip surfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-slip surfaces on sanitary ware, such as shower trays and tiles, are either short-lived, difficult to maintain, or fail to meet modern anti-slip standards due to their design, which is either too rough or not adequately effective.
Innovation Solution
The development of an anti-slip surface featuring a plurality of spaced apart projections with angular edges, a specific height, and a top surface area, arranged in a regular array, which are integrally formed and designed to provide high anti-slip properties while being easy to clean and comfortable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coating is applied to provide an anti-slip surface, then anti-slip properties are improved, but the lifetime of the anti-slip surface becomes shorter than the lifetime of the article
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-slip projections are integrally formed with the shower tray body from the same material, merging the anti-slip surface with the article structure. This eliminates the separation between coating and substrate, ensuring that the anti-slip surface and the article have the same lifetime and fail together, resolving the problem of coating degradation while maintaining article integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-slip projections are formed as an integral part of the shower tray during the manufacturing process, before the article is put into service. This preliminary formation ensures that the anti-slip properties are built-in from the start and will not degrade over time, as they are not a separate coating that can wear away independently.
2Reliability
If a coating is applied to provide an anti-slip surface, then anti-slip properties are improved, but the difficulty of applying and re-applying increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the anti-slip projections with the shower tray body through integral formation, the separate steps of applying and re-applying coatings are eliminated. The anti-slip surface is created in a single manufacturing process, greatly simplifying production and eliminating maintenance requirements for re-application.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-slip features are incorporated into the manufacturing process itself, performed preliminarily before the product reaches the customer. This eliminates post-manufacturing application steps and simplifies the overall manufacturing workflow.
3Ease of manufacture
If raised formations are made large, rounded and widely spaced to facilitate comfort, cleaning and manufacture, then ease of manufacture is improved, but anti-slip performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The projections feature locally optimized geometry with angular edges at the top surface, creating high-stress concentration points that enhance anti-slip performance. This local angular feature contrasts with the overall rounded shape, providing both ease of manufacture and superior anti-slip properties in different locations of the same structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The projections incorporate asymmetric angular edges that create directional friction characteristics, improving anti-slip performance while maintaining symmetric overall shapes for ease of manufacture. The angular edges break the symmetry locally to provide enhanced grip.
4Reliability
If projections are made with specific dimensions and angular edges to meet anti-slip standards, then anti-slip performance is improved, but the complexity of the design increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-slip surface is segmented into discrete projections with standardized dimensions and geometries. Each projection is a simple, repeatable element with specific height, top surface area, and angular edge characteristics. This segmentation allows complex anti-slip performance to be achieved through repetition of simple geometric units.
Solution Approach 2:
The design optimizes specific parameters of the projections (height between 0.5-1.5mm, top surface area between 3-64mm², spacing between 10-16mm) to meet anti-slip standards. By carefully controlling these parameters, high anti-slip performance is achieved without requiring complex geometries, as the performance comes from precise dimensional control rather than shape complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A shower tray or other article having a face with an anti-slip surface comprising an array of spaced apart raised projections. Each projection has a height of between 0.5 mm and 1 mm and a top surface with an area of between 3.14 mm2 and 50.27 mm2, adjacent projections being spaced apart by between 10 mm and 16 mm. Each projection is shaped to have a right angled edge between its top and side. The projections are flared at the bottom. The anti-slip surface exhibits high anti-slip properties while being comfortable and easy to clean.