Shower Tray with Automatic Walking Surface Lift for Cleaning Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower trays with lifting walking surfaces are difficult to access and clean due to narrow spaces and heavy, precious materials, often causing damage during removal and manual handling.
Innovation Solution
A shower tray with automatic lifting means, allowing the walking surface to be pivoted and locked, enabling easy access to the collecting tub for cleaning, using a gas spring or actuator system and a locking mechanism operated by a switch, eliminating manual handling and ensuring safe lifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual lifting of the walking surface is used, then the structure remains simple, but the operation becomes difficult and dangerous due to heavy materials and narrow spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The gas spring mechanism enables the walking surface to lift itself automatically when the locking mechanism is released, eliminating the need for manual lifting by the user. The system serves itself by using stored elastic energy in the gas spring to perform the lifting action that would otherwise require human effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical lifting operation is replaced by a gas spring-based mechanical system that automatically provides lifting force. This substitution transforms the operation from manual effort to an automated mechanical response triggered by releasing the lock.
2Shape
If the walking surface is made of heavy precious materials like marble, then aesthetic results are improved, but the weight increases making manual handling dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The gas spring acts as a counterweight mechanism, providing an upward force that balances and counteracts the weight of the heavy walking surface. This allows the surface to be supported without manual effort and lifted safely through automated means.
3Length of moving object
If the slot between walking surface and perimeter frame is made small, then legal requirements are met, but access for cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to improve access through the narrow horizontal slot, the solution moves the access problem to a different dimension by lifting the walking surface vertically. This creates a large vertical opening that provides excellent access to the collecting tub for cleaning operations.
4Ease of operation
If automatic lifting means are added, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting system is segmented into two independent functional parts: a locking mechanism for securing the walking surface in position, and a gas spring for providing lifting force. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and reliable while together they achieve automated lifting functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates easy and damage-free access to the innermost parts of the shower tray for cleaning, allowing automatic washing and maintenance without manual intervention, enhancing user safety and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The automatic lifting means may include a gas spring with a movable stem; said gas spring is fixed to the collecting tub while the free end of the stem is fixed to the walking surface.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention refers to a shower tray with a walking surface placed at the top of a collecting tub. The shower tray comprises an automatic system to easily and conveniently access the innermost parts of the shower tray, below the walking surface.