Adjustable Tile Floor Drain With Weep Holes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tile floor drains are not completely water-tight, often requiring adjustments in height before concrete is poured, and linear drains are cumbersome and time-consuming to install due to custom manufacturing requirements.

Innovation Solution

A tile floor drain design that includes three access points for water (main drain, top weep holes, and sub weep holes) with a bottom lip for waterproofing, an adjustable height drain cap, and a kit for easy installation, allowing for complete water-tightness and adjustable height post-concrete installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the drain height is set before concrete is poured, then the drain can be properly positioned, but the height cannot be adjusted after concrete hardening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of drain heightVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The drain cover is designed with adjustable height capability, allowing it to be positioned at different heights relative to the drain body. This dynamic adjustment feature enables the drain to adapt to different tile thicknesses and concrete levels after installation, resolving the contradiction between fixed positioning and post-installation adjustability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drain assembly is divided into separate components: a drain body embedded in the concrete and an adjustable drain cover positioned on top. This segmentation allows the drain body to be fixed during concrete pouring while the cover can be adjusted independently afterward, solving the contradiction between initial positioning accuracy and later adjustability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If weep holes are provided in the drain housing, then moisture can enter through the concrete, but the drain is not completely water-tight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater-tightness of drainVSAvoidmoisture leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The weep holes are extracted from the traditional drain housing and repositioned into the drain cover, which is separable from the drain body. This allows the drain body to remain completely sealed and water-tight, while the drain cover with weep holes provides the necessary moisture drainage path without compromising the water-tightness of the main drain structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The drain system is segmented into a water-tight drain body and a separate drain cover with weep holes. This segmentation enables the drain body to maintain complete water-tightness while the cover provides controlled moisture entry points, resolving the contradiction between water-tightness and moisture drainage capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If linear drains are custom-manufactured to specific lengths, then they fit the basin dimensions, but installation time increases to 4-6 weeks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization of drain lengthVSAvoidinstallation lead time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The linear drain is divided into multiple standardized sections or links that can be assembled on-site to achieve the required length. This segmentation eliminates the need for custom-manufacturing each specific length, reducing lead time from 4-6 weeks to immediate availability while maintaining precision through standardized connection interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drain sections are designed as universal, standardized components that can be combined in various configurations to fit different basin dimensions. This universality allows the same standardized sections to serve multiple length requirements, eliminating the need for custom manufacturing while maintaining manufacturing precision through standardized dimensions and connection methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple links are used to achieve desired drain length, then the drain can be adjusted, but installation becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of drain lengthVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple drain sections are merged into a single integrated linear drain component with built-in adjustment mechanisms. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and connections required, simplifying installation while maintaining the ability to adjust the drain length to fit different basin dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250034855A1Tile floor drain

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 BLAMBLE DAVID

AI summary

A tile drain and method of installing a tile drain is provided. The tile drain includes a drain body and a drain cover. The drain body defines a top opening, top weep apertures, and bottom weep apertures. The top opening receives the drain cover and serves as the primary drain for the tile drain. The top weep apertures are positioned below a top layer, such as a tile layer, of the base so as to receive fluid positioned between the top layer and a top waterproofing layer of the base. The sub weep apertures are positioned below the top waterproofing layer of the base so as to receive fluid positioned between the top waterproofing layer and a bottom waterproofing layer of the base. The drain body is encapsulated within the base, but the drain cover is adjustable relative to, and removable from, the drain body.