Showerhead Stabilizer Plate Assembly for Loose Pipe Arm Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for fixing a loose showerhead assembly require removing drywall to access and replace the drop ear elbow fitting, which is cumbersome, costly, and often necessitates replacing shower wall materials.
Innovation Solution
A showerhead stabilizer assembly comprising a stabilizer plate, cylindrically shaped spacers, and fasteners allows for securing the shower pipe arm without removing drywall, using spacers to create a hard stop against the elbow fitting and stabilizing the assembly with fasteners to a structural surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the typical solution of removing drywall is used to fix a loose showerhead assembly, then the broken drop ear elbow fitting can be accessed and replaced, but the repair process becomes cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the repair solution into separate functional components: a stabilizer plate for structural support, spacers for positioning, and fasteners for attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling the repair to be completed without removing the shower arm or drywall, thus reducing repair time while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer plate assembly acts as an intermediary device between the shower arm and the wall structure. Instead of directly accessing and replacing the broken elbow fitting inside the wall, the stabilizer plate provides an alternative structural support path that bypasses the need to remove drywall, thereby reducing repair time while achieving the same reliability goal
2Reliability
If the typical solution of removing drywall is used to fix a loose showerhead assembly, then the plumbing can be stabilized, but the cost and labor of removing and replacing shower wall materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential stabilizing function from the complex process of removing and replacing drywall and plumbing components. By taking out only the necessary elements (stabilizer plate, spacers, fasteners) and applying them externally to the shower arm, the solution achieves plumbing stability without the cumbersome and costly process of wall material replacement
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of removing the shower arm and accessing plumbing from the wall opening, the invention inverts the approach by installing the stabilizer plate assembly from the shower head end, pushing the stabilizing components toward the wall structure. This inverted installation method eliminates the need to remove drywall while achieving the same plumbing stabilization goal
3Reliability
If a broken drop ear elbow fitting is replaced by accessing plumbing inside the wall, then the showerhead assembly can be secured, but the process requires removing surrounding drywall
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer plate assembly is designed to be self-contained and self-installing on the shower arm. The spacers automatically position themselves on the shower arm, and the stabilizer plate secures them in place, creating a self-service system that provides showerhead assembly security without requiring complex procedures or removal of drywall
Data Source
AI summary
A shower stabilizer assembly for use in connection with a broken or loose showerhead assembly is provided. The assembly includes a stabilizer plate, one or more spacers of varying sizes/thicknesses, and a plurality of fasteners to secure the stabilizer plate to a structure. The stabilizer plate comprises a cylindrically shaped spacer contact nipple having a first end affixed to a flange that extends outwardly from the spacer contact nipple and has a circular opening aligned with an interior of the cylindrically shaped spacer contact nipple for receiving a shower pipe arm of the showerhead assembly. The opening in the flange and interior of the cylindrically shaped spacer contact nipple are sized to receive the shower pipe arm.