Shower-WC Cover Plate Tool-Free Removal Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower toilet and attachment designs have limitations in cleaning and maintenance, particularly with the cover plate, which is often difficult to remove and clean, and lacks flexibility for aesthetic or functional changes.
Innovation Solution
A removable cover plate that can be detached without tools, featuring a fastening system using glued-on parts that provide a form-fit latching mechanism, allowing for easy cleaning and replacement, and offering flexibility in materials and design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the cover plate is firmly attached to the housing using traditional fastening mechanisms, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of removal for cleaning and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into separate components: a fastening element with a form-fit latching mechanism that can be independently attached to the housing, and a cover plate that interfaces with this element. This segmentation allows the cover plate to be easily removed and reattached while maintaining structural stability when fastened.
2Ease of repair
If the cover plate is designed to be removable without tools, then the ease of maintenance is improved, but the reliability of the connection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional mechanical fastening system (screws, clips, or interference fits requiring tools) is replaced with a form-fit latching mechanism that uses elastic deformation of the fastening element to create a secure connection. The element is inserted into a receptacle and locks into place through its elastic properties, providing a reliable tool-free fastening system.
3Reliability
If a complex fastening system is used to ensure secure attachment, then the reliability of connection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex fastening mechanism is extracted from the cover plate itself and replaced with a simple receptacle in the housing. The fastening element, which contains the latching mechanism, is taken out and attached separately to the housing, allowing the cover plate to remain simple while achieving reliable fastening through the dedicated fastening element.
4Ease of manufacture
If the cover plate is made as a single integrated piece, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the adaptability for customization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening element is designed as a universal component that can be attached to the housing and works with different cover plate designs. This allows the same fastening system to accommodate various cover plate materials, shapes, and aesthetic finishes, providing customization options while maintaining a simple manufacturing process for each component.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a shower attachment or a shower toilet with a housing (1) in which a shower unit is arranged. The housing (1) has a cover plate (4) on its upper side that can be removed without tools. This cover plate engages in corresponding recesses (6) on the housing via several fastening elements (7) on its underside. The engagement is such that the cover plate can be displaced from its fastened position to an intermediate position by sliding it parallel to the plane of the cover plate. Only after reaching this intermediate position can the cover plate be lifted off the housing. For this purpose, the fastening elements have projections (8) that engage in corresponding undercuts of the recesses in the fastened position.