Height-Adjustable Drinking Fountain Arm with Linear Drain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Public drinking fountains often fail to meet accessibility standards, leading to the need for costly replacements, and suffer from issues like debris trapping, cross-contamination, and wasted water due to fixed fountain arm heights and designs that do not effectively collect or drain water.
Innovation Solution
A height-adjustable drinking fountain with releasable fountain arms and an elongate drain design that includes a mesh to prevent debris and a hood to reduce splashing, allowing for customizable installation and improved hygiene and water management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the fountain arm height is fixed, then the manufacturing and installation are simpler, but the accessibility standards cannot be met for different jurisdictions and user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The fountain arm is designed with adjustable height capability, transitioning from a fixed static structure to a dynamic one that can be positioned at multiple heights. The arm includes mounting holes at different positions and a securing mechanism that allows it to be fixed at selected heights, enabling compliance with varying accessibility standards while maintaining structural stability during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The fountain arm structure is segmented into adjustable components, with the arm itself being separable from the body through a slot interface. This segmentation allows the arm to be independently positioned and secured at different heights, providing versatility without requiring complete redesign of the entire fountain structure.
2Quantity of substance
If a bowl-shaped head is used to collect water, then water collection is improved, but rubbish and debris are trapped causing clogging and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful bowl-shaped structure that traps debris is removed entirely. Instead, a linear drain channel is implemented that guides water away from the nozzle area. This extraction of the problematic bowl design eliminates the trapping of rubbish while maintaining effective water collection and drainage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain design incorporates a simple, easy-to-clean linear channel that can be quickly maintained. The mesh screen at the drain entrance acts as a disposable or easily replaceable component that captures large debris particles, protecting the drainage system while being simple to remove and clean during maintenance.
3Device complexity
If the nozzle is exposed without shielding, then water dispensing is simpler, but cross-contamination occurs when water splashes back onto the nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
A hood structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the nozzle and the user's mouth. This hood acts as a protective barrier that prevents saliva and water from splashing back onto the nozzle, thereby preventing cross-contamination while allowing water to be dispensed freely. The hood is integrated into the arm structure and does not significantly complicate the overall design.
4Adaptability or versatility
If additional outlets for bottle filling are provided, then functionality is improved, but unused water collects on the ground creating slip hazards and water waste
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is merged with the water collection system. The linear drain channel extends to collect water from multiple outlets including the bottle filling outlet. Any water that is dispensed but not used is automatically channeled away through the same drainage path, preventing it from collecting on the ground and eliminating slip hazards and water waste.
Data Source
AI summary
A drinking fountain having an upwardly extending body in which is housed internal components of the fountain; and one or more fountain arms extending outwardly from the body via which water can be dispensed, wherein the or each arm is releasably fixable to the body between two or more positions to enable adjustment of a height of each fountain arm above the ground.