Sanitary bath, in particular bath
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sanitary tubs have visible and difficult-to-clean drain and overflow components, which affect user comfort and aesthetics, and often require complex installation due to exposed piping, and may experience hydraulic odor trap issues leading to malodorous gas penetration.
Innovation Solution
The sanitary tub design hides the drain and overflow behind a detachable cover integrated into the tub wall, allowing for a compact, easy-to-clean, and space-efficient setup with a common drain housing for the drain and overflow, featuring a movably mounted cover and optional mechanical odor barrier to prevent gas penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drain and overflow are made visible and accessible, then operation and maintenance are easier, but aesthetics deteriorate and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drain valve is integrated within the overflow structure, with the overflow serving as a housing or cover for the valve mechanism. This nesting allows the valve to be concealed during normal use while remaining accessible when needed, resolving the contradiction between aesthetics and operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The overflow structure is designed to be movable or removable, allowing it to transition between a closed aesthetic state during normal use and an open state during maintenance or operation. This dynamic design enables the system to switch between prioritizing appearance and prioritizing access.
2Adaptability or versatility
If external overflow piping is used, then installation flexibility is improved, but space requirements increase and aesthetics worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow and drain functions are merged into a single integrated structure located at the same position. This combination eliminates the need for separate external overflow piping, reducing space requirements while maintaining installation flexibility through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The overflow piping is nested within the bathtub structure itself, with the overflow opening and internal channels integrated into the tub wall or base. This nesting eliminates external piping and reduces the space needed under the bathtub.
3Reliability
If the hydraulic trap is positioned conventionally, then drainage function is maintained, but foul-smelling gases can penetrate through the overflow when the trap dries out
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow and drain are merged into a single integrated structure with a common hydraulic trap. This integration ensures that the overflow path also passes through the trap, providing continuous gas sealing even when the trap water level fluctuates, preventing malodorous gas penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic trap acts as an intermediary element between the overflow and the drainage system. By positioning the trap at the outlet of both the overflow and drain, it mediates the flow from both sources and provides a unified gas seal, preventing gases from entering through either path.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances user comfort by concealing unsightly components, simplifies maintenance and assembly, reduces installation space requirements, and prevents malodorous gas entry, ensuring a clean and hygienic environment.
Implementation Method 1
the overflow of a conventional bathtub is connected to the drain body of the tub drain, which typically contains a hydraulic trap with a water seal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a sanitary tub (1), in particular a bathtub, with a tub base (1.2), with at least one tub wall (1.3) extending substantially vertically or steeply relative to the tub base (1.2), with a drain opening (1.4) provided with a drain valve (2), and with an overflow (3). To improve such a tub with regard to its function and appearance by reducing or eliminating one or more of the problems identified in the prior art, such as the direct visibility of soiling at the drain and overflow and/or impaired comfort when sitting or leaning in the tub due to attachments projecting into the tub from the overflow or drain, the invention provides that the drain opening (1.4) and the overflow (3) are arranged in a concealed manner behind an inner tub cover (5) which is detachably integrated into the substantially vertically or steeply extending tub wall (1.3).