Flexible Bathtub Drain Connection for Offset Floor Drain Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of large and heavy bathtubs is challenging due to their size and weight, making it difficult to position them correctly relative to the drain pipe, which often requires precise alignment and can be complicated by finished flooring patterns.
Innovation Solution
A bathtub drain connection system that includes a flexible drain connector allowing the bathtub drain pipe to be offset and pivotable relative to the fixed drain pipe, enabling greater installation tolerance and flexibility in positioning the bathtub during and after installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid drain pipe connection system is used, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the installation flexibility and alignment tolerance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The drain connector transitions from a rigid static connection to a dynamic flexible connection that can adapt its shape and position. The flexible pipe allows the connection to accommodate movements and misalignments while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between strength and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible pipe as the drain connector, which can bend and deform to accommodate offset positions between the bathtub and floor drain. This flexible element maintains connection strength while providing the necessary installation flexibility and alignment tolerance.
2Reliability
If precise alignment is required during installation, then the drainage reliability is improved, but the installation complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible pipe changes the alignment parameter from requiring precise concentric alignment to allowing offset positions. The pipe's flexibility parameter enables it to accommodate various degrees of misalignment while maintaining reliable drainage function, thus improving reliability without increasing installation time.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the bathtub is fixed in position, then the structural stability is improved, but the post-installation adjustability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible drain connector enables the bathtub to be movable relative to the floor structure after installation. The flexible pipe maintains a sealed connection while accommodating position adjustments, allowing the bathtub to be repositioned without compromising structural stability or drainage reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A bathtub drain connection system includes a first drain pipe configured to couple to a drain opening of a bathtub and a second drain pipe configured to mount to a floor structure. A drain connector is extends between the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe so that the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe are coupled in fluid communication. The drain connector is configured to allow the first drain pipe to be disposed offset relative to the second drain pipe and in a direction that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the floor structure.