Adjustable Shower Drain with Shortenable Grate for Tile Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elongate shower drains often fail to fit properly in shower spaces due to inaccuracies in wall dimensions and tile thickness variations, leading to sealing issues and installation challenges.
Innovation Solution
A drain design featuring a frame or covering grate with a protruding part that can be shortened or adjusted to accommodate dimensional variations, using a sealing membrane and break grooves for precise fitting, allowing for flexible installation and sealing between walls and floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the drain is made to fit the original wall dimensions, then the drain appears to extend over the whole length, but the drain no longer fits after plastering and tile installation due to dimensional changes
Solution Approach 1:
The drain is divided into two parts: a fixed lower receptacle and an adjustable protruding part. The protruding part can be shortened or lengthened independently to accommodate dimensional changes in the shower space after plastering and tiling, while the lower receptacle maintains its original position and sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding part is designed to be adjustable rather than fixed. It can be modified in length during installation to adapt to actual wall dimensions, transforming the drain from a static component to a dynamic one that can accommodate variations in shower space dimensions.
2Ease of operation
If the drain is shortened during installation to fit the actual space, then the drain fits properly, but the sealing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drain is segmented into a lower receptacle that maintains the original sealing interface with the floor and walls, and a protruding part that can be adjusted for fitting. This segmentation allows the sealing function to remain intact while the visible portion is made to size.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable protruding part is extracted from the sealing function. The sealing is performed by the lower receptacle and its flanges, while the protruding part serves only the aesthetic and fitting function, allowing it to be shortened without affecting the seal.
3Manufacturing precision
If the drain grate is made to match the final tile thickness, then the drain fits perfectly, but the installation process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The lower receptacle is installed first with its flanges positioned to accommodate the final tile thickness. The protruding part is then added and adjusted to match the actual tile dimensions, allowing the drain to be made to size after tiling rather than requiring precise pre-calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding part is designed as an adjustable component that can be modified during installation to match the actual tile thickness and wall dimensions, eliminating the need for complex pre-measuring and pre-cutting operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a drain, such as a shower drain, comprising a lower receptacle provided with an outlet opening and a part, such as a frame or covering grate, arranged in the lower receptacle, wherein the part arranged in the lower receptacle can be shortened. A drain is hereby obtained which has variable dimensions.