Built-in Cistern with Nested Waterproof Cover for Wooden Houses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current built-in cistern systems for ceramic toilets in wooden houses are complex and costly to install, prone to water damage, and lack effective moisture and leakage protection, which can lead to increased material costs, high installation efforts, and potential safety issues due to susceptibility to pests and odor buildup.

Innovation Solution

A built-in cistern system with a flexible, waterproof protective cover surrounding the cistern and connecting pipe, featuring a tube-like extension with an underside opening for water drainage, integrated into a mounting frame with adjustable height and a removable cover plate, ensuring easy assembly and robust protection against moisture and leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional built-in cistern systems are installed in wooden houses, then water supply and flushing functions are achieved, but water damage risk increases due to leakage and condensation affecting the building structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater damage protectionVSAvoidmoisture and leakage impact on wooden structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested protective structure where an inner waterproof membrane lines the cistern cavity, surrounded by an outer protective cover that creates a sealed enclosure. This multi-layer nested arrangement ensures that any leakage or condensation is contained within the protective structure without reaching the wooden building fabric, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing water supply functions and preventing water damage to the wooden house structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate protective elements including a waterproof membrane as inner lining and a protective cover as outer barrier. These intermediary structures act as mediators between the water-containing cistern system and the wooden building structure, preventing direct contact between moisture and the wood, thus eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining the functional integrity of the water supply system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If complex protection systems like pipe-in-pipe or separate pre-walls are implemented, then water damage protection is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater damage protectionVSAvoidinstallation structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the protective cover and the cistern housing into a single integrated structure. The protective cover is formed as an integral part of the cistern assembly, eliminating the need for separate pre-walls or complex pipe-in-pipe systems. This merging reduces installation complexity and cost while maintaining effective water damage protection through the integrated sealed enclosure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides waterproof protection, structural support for the cistern, and a sealed enclosure for condensation management. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional separate protective structures, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining robust water damage protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the protective cover is completely sealed, then moisture protection is improved, but condensation buildup increases without drainage capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture protectionVSAvoidcondensation accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the drainage function from the sealed protective cover by providing a dedicated drainage opening. This opening allows condensation that forms within the sealed enclosure to be drained outward, preventing accumulation while maintaining the sealed protective environment. The drainage opening is strategically positioned to enable condensation removal without compromising the overall moisture protection provided by the sealed cover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of repair

If access openings are provided for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but protection against pests and odor buildup deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility for maintenanceVSAvoidpest infestation and odor
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides localized access openings at specific positions on the protective cover where maintenance is required, rather than creating large open areas. These localized openings maintain the overall sealed structure, preventing pest infestation and odor buildup in the majority of the enclosure while providing sufficient access points for maintenance activities. The openings are positioned and sized to balance accessibility with protective functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3138968B1Built-in cistern with moisture and leakage protection
Publication Date: 2019.08.14 TECE GMBH
  • EP3138968B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3138968B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a concealed cistern 1 for a toilet bowl 10, which can be installed in a wall, comprising a water connection, an actuating device 13, a connecting pipe 3 between the concealed cistern 1 and the toilet bowl 10, and moisture and leak protection. The concealed cistern 1 serves to flush a sanitary ceramic, preferably a toilet bowl 10. Areas of application for the invention are wet rooms, in particular sanitary areas in buildings constructed of wood, for example, wooden houses. Unlike living spaces made of concrete or stone, wooden houses have an increased risk that, due to the susceptibility of wood to mold and rot, the building structure of a wooden house will be irreparably damaged by water damage.