Sanitary Vessel Drain Assembly for Tool-Free Leak-Proof Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drain assemblies for sanitary vessels require significant time and resources for installation and maintenance, often necessitating tools and adjustments like plumber's putty or caulk for proper alignment and sealing, and do not easily adapt to various configurations without compromising aesthetic appeal or seal integrity.
Innovation Solution
A drain assembly with a one-piece or multi-piece housing and actuation assembly that includes a linearly reciprocatable stopper and securement region, allowing for tool-free installation and operation without compromising seal integrity, featuring a motion translation device for easy actuation and a secure connection to the drain articulation member, eliminating the need for adjustments and ensuring leak-proof sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional drain assemblies are installed using traditional methods, then proper alignment and sealing can be achieved, but installation time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The drain assembly is divided into distinct modular components: a drain body with integrated seal, a separate stopper mechanism, and a flange assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled quickly without requiring complex alignment procedures, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining sealing quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is pre-integrated into the drain body during manufacturing, eliminating the need for installers to apply plumber's putty or caulk on-site. The stopper mechanism is also pre-assembled with its lifting components. This preliminary preparation ensures proper sealing and alignment are built-in, significantly reducing installation time and complexity.
2Reliability
If conventional drain assemblies require tools and adjustments for installation, then proper function can be ensured, but ease of installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drain assembly incorporates self-aligning features where the flange and body automatically position themselves during installation without requiring external tools or adjustments. The integrated seal design allows the components to self-seal upon assembly, ensuring functional performance while dramatically improving ease of installation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional drain assemblies use multiple components, then functionality can be optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the seal, drain body, and flange into an integrated assembly where the seal is permanently attached to the drain body. The stopper mechanism is also integrated with the lifting cord system. This merging reduces the number of separate components that need to be handled and assembled, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining all necessary functional capabilities.
4Reliability
If conventional installations require plumber's putty or caulk, then leak-proof sealing can be achieved, but installation time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is pre-manufactured and pre-attached to the drain body in a controlled factory environment, ensuring optimal seal integrity. This preliminary action eliminates the need for installers to apply plumber's putty or caulk on-site, thereby achieving leak-proof sealing while dramatically improving installation efficiency and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an improved drain assembly having a drain stopper assembly in operational communication with an actuation assembly. The drain stopper assembly includes an elongate one-piece housing with a longitudinal body coextensive with proximal and distal extents of the housing and defining a lumen therein. A flange portion at the proximal extent has a fluid egress for delivery of fluids from a sanitary vessel to the housing lumen. The housing body has an inner circumferential surface of predetermined inner diameter and an outer circumferential surface of predetermined outer diameter. A linearly reciprocatable drain stopper is provided that has a closure head proximate which an elongate shaft depends. The stopper reciprocates between a fully closed position, wherein the closure head obstructs the fluid egress, and a fully open position, wherein the fluid egress remains unobstructed. A securement region provided on the outer housing surface has a receiving region defined therewith and effects operational communication between the drain stopper assembly and the actuation assembly so that operation of a drain articulation member effects reciprocal motion of the drain stopper. In this embodiment, the housing, flange portion and securement region comprise an integral member. In an alternative embodiment, the drain stopper assembly has a multi-piece housing.