Adjustable Foot Elements for Sanitary Floor Drainage Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction of sanitary facilities is complicated and error-prone due to inaccuracies in assembling the floor area, which can lead to improper drainage and reduced usability, making subsequent adjustments difficult or requiring a new installation.
Innovation Solution
A floor structure with a carrier and adjustable foot elements that can be individually adjusted to compensate for unevenness in the substructure, allowing for precise alignment and drainage, even after installation, using mechanisms such as threads, telescoping rods, and locking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the floor area is firmly installed to ensure stability, then the structural stability is improved, but the ability to make subsequent adjustments is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The floor area is designed with adjustable support elements (feet or legs) that can be modified in height or position even after the main structure is installed. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the floor area to adapt to uneven surfaces or structural variations while maintaining stable operation during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor area is divided into a main rigid structure and separate adjustable support elements. This segmentation allows the main structure to remain stable and firmly installed, while the individual support elements can be independently adjusted to compensate for installation inaccuracies or structural variations.
2Device complexity
If traditional fixed installation methods are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and alignment accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable support elements enable dynamic alignment adjustments during installation, allowing workers to achieve precise alignment and level positioning without requiring extremely precise pre-manufacturing tolerances. This reduces the complexity of the installation process while improving alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The support elements provide adjustable parameters (height, position, angle) that can be modified during installation to compensate for variations in the underlying structure. This allows for precise alignment of the floor area without requiring complex installation procedures or specialized equipment.
3Ease of manufacture
If the floor area is installed without adjustment capabilities, then the ease of installation is improved, but the reliability of drainage function deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable support elements allow the floor area to be dynamically positioned to achieve the correct slope for drainage. This simple adjustment mechanism ensures reliable drainage function without complicating the installation process, as workers can easily modify the support height to create the necessary gradient toward drainage points.
Solution Approach 2:
By allowing adjustment of the support parameters (height and position), the system enables proper drainage slope to be achieved even on uneven surfaces. This maintains ease of installation while ensuring the drainage function works reliably, as the correct angular parameter can be set during installation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
A ground structure for sanitary facilities such as a shower comprises a carrier (1) having an upper side with an inclination at least in sections sloping to one side of the carrier, and having an underside which can be arranged substantially parallel to a substructure of the sanitary facilities. The ground structure also comprises a plurality of foot elements (11) which can be connected to the carrier (1) in such a way that each foot element (11) supports the carrier (1) at a distance to the substructure, wherein the distance substantially corresponds with a height of the respective foot element (11), wherein the height of the foot element (11) can be individually adjusted.