Detachable Insert Container for Wall-Embedded Shower Hose Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sanitary installations embedded in walls face issues with maintenance and cleaning due to inaccessibility, tangling of shower hoses, and accumulation of water and dirt, which leads to increased cleaning effort and potential damage to the wall.

Innovation Solution

A double-shell sanitary installation with a guide mechanism for the shower hose and a drainage system, where the insert container is detachably inserted into the assembly container, allowing for easy access and maintenance, and featuring a deflection device with rollers for automatic hose retraction and a wastewater connection to prevent accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the shower hose is concealed within the wall, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the hose becomes inaccessible for maintenance and cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidaccessibility for maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting container is divided into an outer container and an inner container that can be detached from each other. The inner container houses the shower hose and retraction mechanism, while the outer container remains fixed in the wall. This segmentation allows the inner container to be removed for maintenance while the outer container maintains the aesthetic appearance of the wall installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the shower hose is returned into the wall, then the shower area is kept clean, but water and dirt accumulate in the installation box

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleanliness of shower areaVSAvoidwater and dirt accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The inner container is extracted as a separate, detachable component from the outer container. This extraction allows the accumulated water and dirt in the inner container to be easily removed by taking out the inner container, preventing harmful accumulation while maintaining the clean shower area when the hose is retracted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The inner container serves as an intermediary between the shower hose and the outer wall installation. It captures water and dirt that accumulate during hose retraction, isolating these harmful factors from the permanent wall structure and enabling easy removal for cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the insert container is tightly fitted into the mounting container, then the structural stability is improved, but the maintenance access is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmaintenance access
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the inner container and outer container is made dynamic rather than permanent. The inner container can be in a stable, fitted state during normal operation providing structural stability, but can be easily detached when maintenance is needed, transitioning between stable and accessible states as required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enhances maintenance and cleaning efficiency by providing easy access to the retraction mechanism and drainage, preventing water and dirt accumulation, and reducing the risk of damage to the wall while ensuring smooth hose operation.

Implementation Method 1

The guide device has a first deflection pulley (9) for the shower hose (8), which is rotatable on a first pivot axis (D9)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulley: Pulley

Implementation Method 2

a weighted roller running along it. A retraction mechanism installed behind the hose allows it to be positioned behind the shower wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3501356B1Sanitary installation
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP3501356B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3501356B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3501356B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a sanitary installation (1) for arrangement in a recess of a wall (5) of a shower room, comprising a mounting container (2) with a receiving space (19), and an insert container (3) detachably inserted therein with a receiving space (20), wherein a versatile usable space (4) is provided between the rear wall (25) of the mounting container (2) and the rear wall (26) of the insert container (3).