Blind install drain for bath or shower
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of bathtub drains is often difficult for a single person and requires access to the underside of the bathtub, which can be challenging, especially when the bathtub is heavy, necessitating the use of a drain that can be installed from the top side without requiring access to the underside.
Innovation Solution
A drain installation assembly comprising a drain body and a drain coupling with a flexible material squeeze portion that deforms to create a squeeze bulge, allowing the drain to be coupled from the top side, enabling installation without lifting the bathtub, and a method involving inserting the drain coupling into the wash basin from the top and coupling it with the drain body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drain is installed from the underside of the bathtub, then the drain can be properly positioned and sealed, but access to the underside is required which makes installation difficult and requires multiple people
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional installation approach by installing the drain from the top side of the bathtub instead of from the underside. The drain coupling is inserted through the drain opening from above, and the drain body is attached from the top, eliminating the need to access the underside of the bathtub for installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain assembly is divided into separate components: a drain coupling that inserts through the drain opening and a drain body that attaches from above. This segmentation allows the installation process to be performed from the accessible top side rather than requiring access to the difficult-to-reach underside.
2Ease of operation
If the bathtub is lifted to install the drain from the underside, then the drain can be installed, but heavy bathtubs require more than two people and increase risk of injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need to lift the heavy bathtub by inverting the installation approach. Instead of lifting the tub to access the underside, the drain components are inserted and assembled from the top drain opening, which is easily accessible without moving the bathtub at all.
3Reliability
If a traditional drain installation method is used, then proper sealing can be achieved, but access to the underside is required which increases installation time and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains reliable sealing by inverting the installation sequence. The drain coupling is inserted from the top and sealed against the underside of the bathtub flange, while the drain body is attached from above. This allows proper sealing to be achieved without requiring access to the underside for the actual sealing action.
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
Facilitates the installation of a bathtub drain without the need for lifting, reducing the risk of injury and requiring fewer people, while ensuring a watertight seal and secure connection.
Implementation Method 1
The squeeze portion is configured to deform so as to define a squeeze bulge when the drain coupling is coupled to the drain body
Data Source
AI summary
A drain installation assembly includes a drain body and a drain coupling. The drain coupling is configured to be inserted into a drain opening of a wash basin from a top side of the wash basin. The drain coupling comprises a first coupling end and a second coupling end, the second coupling end positioned opposite to the first coupling end. The drain coupling further includes a squeeze portion positioned between the first coupling end and the second coupling end, the squeeze portion formed of a flexible material. The drain body comprises a body flange extending radially away from the drain body. The squeeze portion is configured to deform, so as to define a squeeze bulge when the drain coupling is coupled to the drain body, the squeeze bulge having a diameter greater than a diameter of the drain opening of the wash basin.