Sliding Shower Wall Guide Structure Without Glass Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower walls with sliding doors made of mineral glass require complex manufacturing processes and higher costs due to drilling holes in untempered glass, which increases the risk of breakage and complicates assembly, while also failing to meet aesthetic and functional requirements.
Innovation Solution
The shower wall design allows for production without drilling or mechanical processing of glass, enabling easy attachment of handles and seals, with adjustable guides and seals that can be glued on site, using pre-cut hardened glass and simple running rails that can be cut to size, facilitating quick and efficient assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If holes are drilled in glass panels for fastening sliding doors, then attachment of drives and handles is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase, and breakage risk increases due to stresses in the glass
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into separate components: the glass panel remains intact while attachment points are created on the carriage structure itself. The carriage is divided into functional sections (holding section for the glass panel, drive section for mounting drives) that can be assembled without drilling the glass.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage acts as an intermediary element between the glass panel and the driving mechanism. Instead of directly attaching drives to the glass, the carriage provides a separate mounting structure that interfaces with both the glass panel (via clamping or friction) and the drive mechanism, eliminating the need to drill holes in the glass.
2Reliability
If seals are attached to end faces of glass panels, then sealing between sliding door and wall is achieved, but water and soap residues may accumulate between seals and glass
Solution Approach 1:
The seal consists of a flexible sealing profile (made of elastomeric or plastic material) that is glued to the end face of the glass panel. This flexible membrane conformally contacts the adjacent surface, creating an effective seal while its smooth, non-porous surface prevents water and soap residues from accumulating.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2~4
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The shower wall arrangement (5) for a corner shower comprises fixed walls (1) and sliding doors (3), which are fastened or movably mounted in a guide (7) at least at the top. The sliding rails (9) of the upper guide (7) meet at a corner (11), which is formed by a corner element, which the sliding rails (9) abut at an obtuse angle and at which the sliding rails are fastened. Covers (71) completely cover the sliding rails (9) and the corner element except for the front rounding from the outside. A fine terminating element connects the two end-face ends of the covers in such a way that the elements that connect the two sliding rails (9) are not visible from the outside.