Shower Drain Box with Adjustable Support Tabs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laying boxes for shower drain fittings are difficult to install on uneven floors and require complex production processes, limiting their adaptability and ease of use.

Innovation Solution

A laying box with laterally protruding tabs that accommodate height-adjustable stands, allowing for precise positioning on uneven surfaces, and featuring connections for wastewater pipes with optional angled configurations and material layers for increased flexibility, along with pivotable and clip-on designs for enhanced adaptability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a two-part laying box with adjustable cover section is used, then the height can be adjusted, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidtwo-part structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The laying box is divided into a base section with laterally projecting tabs and a separate cover section, allowing independent adjustment of the cover section relative to the base section to achieve height adjustment while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cover section can be adjusted to different positions relative to the base section using locking means, enabling dynamic height adjustment during installation to accommodate varying subfloor conditions and drainage requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the cover section is guided over the side walls of the base section, then assembly is simplified, but the laying box cannot be used on uneven subfloors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to uneven subfloors
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Height adjustment is achieved not only through vertical positioning of the cover section but also through lateral extension of the base section via tabs and support legs, adding a horizontal dimension to the adjustment capability to compensate for uneven subfloors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Laterally projecting tabs with support legs act as intermediary elements between the base section and the subfloor, providing adjustable support to level the laying box on uneven surfaces while maintaining the simple guided assembly of the cover section

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If support legs are positioned centrally in the base, then manufacturing is simplified, but screed flow is blocked and positioning precision is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase structure simplicityVSAvoidpositioning precision relative to screed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Support legs are positioned asymmetrically at the ends of laterally projecting tabs rather than centrally in the base, creating an uneven distribution that improves positioning precision and allows screed to flow freely to all areas including between the laying box and subfloor

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP4283060B1Box for receiving a drain
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 EDM SYST GMBH
  • EP4283060B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4283060B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a duct box for installation in a floor structure and for accommodating a drain assembly for the creation of a water drain embedded in a screed, in particular for a walk-in shower, comprising a base (11) to which a circumferential side wall (12) adjoins, wherein laterally projecting outwards tabs (33) provided with a through-hole (34) are arranged on the base (11), each of which accommodates a support foot (5) that is height-adjustably mounted in the respective tab (33, 83). The invention further relates to a support rail for a duct box.