WC Shower Attachment Sloping Transition Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Shower attachments for toilets often have a significant height jump and excessive depth, leading to discomfort and an increased risk of the seating position migrating towards the technical housing, which can result in an uncomfortable and impractical user experience, especially for individuals with artificial bowels or urethral outlets.

Innovation Solution

The design features a smooth transition between the toilet seat and shower technology housing with a height jump of no more than 5 mm, a small joint width, and a sloping surface that extends under the toilet seat, ensuring a comfortable and ergonomic seating area that extends further back, while maintaining a low overall height and minimizing the presence of the shower attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the shower technology housing is designed with a larger depth to accommodate technical components, then the seating area can be extended further back, but the overall depth of the attachment device becomes excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseating area extensionVSAvoidoverall depth
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent redirects the shower technology housing vertically upward rather than extending it horizontally backward. The housing is designed to rise above the toilet seat level, allowing technical components to be accommodated in the vertical dimension while keeping the horizontal depth compact. This dimensional shift resolves the contradiction by separating the seating extension function (horizontal) from the component accommodation function (vertical).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If the transition between toilet seat and shower technology housing has a significant height jump, then the technical housing can be positioned higher, but user comfort deteriorates and the transition becomes noticeable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing positioningVSAvoiduser comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs curved and sloping surfaces instead of sharp transitions. The front side of the shower technology housing features a sloping surface that smoothly connects to the toilet seat, and the rear side has a curved surface that gradually rises. These curved transitions eliminate abrupt height jumps, maintaining user comfort while allowing the housing to be positioned at the required height for technical component accommodation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If the shower technology housing is positioned higher to accommodate components, then component placement is improved, but the seating position may migrate towards the housing causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent placementVSAvoidseating position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By moving the housing vertically upward rather than extending it backward, the patent creates clear horizontal separation between the seating area and the technical housing. This dimensional repositioning prevents the seating position from migrating toward the housing while still providing adequate space for component placement within the vertically extended housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The curved rear surface of the housing that gradually rises from front to back creates a smooth transition zone that guides users to sit at the appropriate position. The curvature provides ergonomic feedback that prevents seating migration toward the housing while maintaining comfort in the extended seating area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3339521B1Shower attachment for a wc
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP3339521B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3339521B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3339521B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Shower attachment device for a toilet (10) with a sloping top (13) of a shower technology housing (12) which has a smooth transition to a toilet seat (11) and is concave, low and not too steep.