Flexible Bathtub Drain Connection for Offset and Pivotable 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 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 hose or expandable connector allows movement and adjustment during installation and use, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and installation flexibility by providing both stability and adaptability through material properties rather than rigid mechanical constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector's physical parameters (length, shape, position) are made changeable through flexibility. The hose or expandable connector can alter its configuration to accommodate different alignment requirements while maintaining sealed connection, allowing the system to adapt to various installation scenarios without compromising connection integrity.
2Reliability
If precise alignment is required for drain pipes, then the sealing performance is improved, but the installation complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible hose or expandable connector acts as a flexible shell that can deform to bridge misalignments between drain pipes. This flexibility maintains sealing performance across a range of positions, eliminating the need for precise alignment while keeping installation quick and simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic nature of the flexible connector allows it to self-adjust during installation to achieve proper sealing without requiring precise pre-alignment of components. The system accommodates positioning variations naturally, reducing installation time and complexity while maintaining reliable sealing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the bathtub is fixed in position, then the structural stability is improved, but the ability to accommodate flooring pattern variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible drain connector enables the bathtub to be positioned with greater freedom relative to the drain pipe location. The flexibility accommodates variations in flooring patterns and bathtub positions while the bathtub itself remains structurally stable once installed, resolving the contradiction between stability and positioning adaptability.
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.