U-Shaped Deck Sill Drain for Screen Enclosure Water Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing screen enclosures for pools and patios often trap water during cleaning, leading to inefficiencies and potential mosquito breeding sites.

Innovation Solution

A horizontal screen deck drain system featuring a U-shaped body with a hinged door and concealed fasteners, designed to integrate seamlessly with deck sill track portions, allowing for efficient water drainage while maintaining the screen enclosure's integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If water is diverted for egress through a distant door, then water can be removed from the enclosure, but cleaning efficiency is reduced and water accumulation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidwater removal time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The drain device extracts the water removal function from the distant door and relocates it to the deck sill track level, allowing water to be drained directly at the enclosure boundary rather than requiring transport to a remote location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The drain device acts as an intermediary element between the deck sill track and the ground, providing a dedicated water egress path that mediates between the enclosure interior and exterior without requiring door operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If deck sill tracks are used to create a barrier, then screen enclosure integrity is maintained, but water drainage capability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenclosure integrityVSAvoidwater drainage function

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The drain device provides multi-functionality by simultaneously serving as a structural component that maintains enclosure integrity and as a water drainage system, combining barrier and drainage functions in a single integrated solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The drain device merges the deck sill track barrier function with the water drainage function, integrating two previously separate requirements into a unified system that achieves both goals concurrently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a drain device is installed between deck sill track portions, then water drainage is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater drainage functionVSAvoiddrain system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drain device is segmented into distinct functional components including the U-shaped body for structural integration, the hinged door for flow control, and the concealed fasteners for installation, allowing each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Shape

If concealed fasteners are used to couple the U-shaped body, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidinstallation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The concealed fasteners are designed to be integrated into the U-shaped body structure itself, allowing the device to be self-installing through the track system without requiring separate fastening operations or complex assembly procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12234677B1Horizontal screen deck drain system, screen deck drain, and method of use

Publication Date: 2025.02.25 DACON VENTURES LLC

AI summary

A drain device for a screen enclosure having deck sill track portions, where two adjacent deck sill track portions form a pair of deck sill track portions. The device includes a U-shaped body having a first side, a second side, and a top surface extending between the first side and the second side. The body includes a screen attaching side and an opening that forms a drain port under the top surface and between the first side and the second side. The device includes concealed fasteners that couple the U-shaped body between and to the pair of deck sill track portions and so that the top surface of the U-shaped body is flush with a top surface of each deck sill track portion of the pair of deck sill track portions. A screen enclosure system is provided that includes multiple drain devices.