Adjustable Floor Drain Cover for Flush Wall Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor drains in sanitary installations, such as shower drains, lack sufficient adjustability, making it difficult to achieve a perfect, flush installation in various installation situations, as their apertures are only insufficiently adjustable.

Innovation Solution

An inlet arrangement with an adjustment unit that includes a first adjustment element with a receiving section and a second adjustment element with a fastening section, connected via a guide for translational and rotational movements, allowing the aperture to be positioned flush with the wall and adapted to different installation scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If floor drains use fixed aperture designs, then manufacturing and installation are simple, but adaptability to different installation situations is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to installation situationsVSAvoidaperture arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The aperture arrangement is designed with movable components that allow adjustment in multiple directions (horizontally, vertically, and rotationally). The aperture can be dynamically repositioned using adjustment elements with guides and locking mechanisms, transforming a static structure into an adaptable one that responds to various installation requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The aperture arrangement is divided into separate adjustable components including the aperture itself, adjustment elements, guides, and locking mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be independently positioned and adjusted, enabling flexible adaptation to different installation situations while maintaining overall system functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If floor drains use simple cover attachment methods, then device complexity is low, but alignment precision with the wall is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precision with wallVSAvoidadjustment unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover attachment system incorporates adjustable elements that enable dynamic positioning of the cover relative to the wall. The adjustment unit allows the cover to be moved and locked at precise positions, ensuring flush alignment with the wall while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Adjustment elements serve as intermediary components between the cover and the floor drain body. These intermediaries provide the necessary adjustment capability for precise wall alignment without requiring complex integrated mechanisms, allowing independent adjustment of cover position

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2818600B1Floor drain with adjustable wall cover
Publication Date: 2017.04.19 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP2818600B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2818600B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2818600B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An adjustment unit (1) for a cover (2) of an inlet housing (3) of a sanitary installation, in particular a shower, comprises a first adjustment element (4) with a receiving section (5) for receiving the cover (2) and a second adjustment element (6) with a fastening section (7) for fastening to the inlet housing (3), wherein the first adjustment element (4) is connected to the second adjustment element (6) via a guide (8), and wherein the first adjustment element (4) is movable along a first adjustment movement (T) relative to the second adjustment element (6) so that the relative position of the first adjustment element (4) to the second adjustment element (6) is adjustable.