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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing corner shelves for tiled areas, such as shower stalls, are often unstable, pose injury risks, and compromise the moisture barrier, with previous solutions being costly, difficult to install, and not aesthetically pleasing.
Innovation Solution
A corner shelf with a one-piece angled support that fits into tile joints, featuring projections that cover the tile edge, allowing for secure installation during tiling without damaging the vapor barrier, and optional LED lighting for safety and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If shelves are fastened in a shower cubicle by drilling holes in tile joints, then the shelf can be securely attached, but the moisture barrier behind the tiles is compromised and sharp edges pose injury risks
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is divided into multiple components: a support element with projection elements for insertion into tile joints, and a tray element that rests on the support. This segmentation allows the attachment mechanism to be separated from the user-exposed surfaces, enabling secure mounting without compromising the moisture barrier or creating sharp edges in the shower area
Solution Approach 2:
The projection elements act as intermediaries between the shelf and the wall structure. They insert into the tile joint framework behind the tiles to provide secure attachment, while the tray element with its angled portion covering the tile edge provides a safe, rounded surface in the shower cubicle, thus mediating between attachment requirements and safety requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If corner shelves are installed by drilling into tiles after tiling is complete, then installation flexibility is improved, but the vapor barrier is damaged and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projection elements are designed to be inserted into the tile joints during the tiling process itself, when the joint structure is still accessible and intact. This preliminary action allows the shelf to be pre-positioned and secured to the tile framework before the final grouting and sealing steps, enabling flexible installation timing without compromising the vapor barrier
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used to construct the shelf, then manufacturing and installation flexibility improve, but production costs increase and structural stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support element and tray element are designed as separate but tightly integrated components. The tray element features an angled portion that covers the tile edge and merges with the support element's projection, creating a unified structural appearance and enhanced stability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular fabrication
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a support to be applied in a corner in particular covered with wall tiles, which support has an overlay for a tile and two parts projecting relative to the tile for introduction in particular into a joint extending over the corner, wherein an angled portion (4) at least partially covering the edge of the overlying tile (3) is connected to at least one free side (5) of the overlay (2), the angled portion (4) is formed integrally with the overlay (2), and in a view from above the two projecting parts (9, 10) project over the overlay (2) and the angled portion (4) in each case by less than the thickness of a wall tile (11, 13; 12, 14).