Floor Drain Grating with Displaceable Lifting Arm

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor drain gratings, particularly tile-shaped ones, are difficult to remove for cleaning due to lack of gripping points, and manufacturers face challenges in discreetly branding their products for aesthetic and marketing reasons.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a displaceable part of the grating that protrudes to provide a gripping point and allows for easy lifting, while also enabling a brand name or logo to be visible only when the grating is removed, using mechanisms like pivotable arms, springs, or wedge-shaped elements to facilitate easy removal and concealment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a tile-shaped grating is used to make the drain inconspicuous, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but removal for cleaning becomes difficult due to lack of gripping points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidremoval for cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The grating is divided into a stationary part and a displaceable part. The displaceable part can be moved to provide a gripping point for removal, while the stationary part remains flush with the floor for aesthetic purposes. This segmentation allows the grating to serve both aesthetic and functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The displaceable part of the grating is designed to be movable between a first position (flush with floor) and a second position (protruding to provide gripping point). This dynamic element allows the grating to transition between aesthetic mode and removal mode, resolving the contradiction between appearance and ease of removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a separate hook is provided for lifting the grating, then removal ease is improved, but the hook is often lost and removal becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremoval easeVSAvoidremoval reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting function is merged into the grating structure itself through the displaceable part that provides an integrated gripping point. This eliminates the need for separate hooks and ensures the lifting capability is always available as part of the grating structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The grating is designed to be self-sufficient with an integrated displaceable part that provides the gripping point needed for removal. The system serves itself by incorporating the lifting mechanism directly into the grating, eliminating dependence on external tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If a brand name or logo is arranged on the grating, then manufacturer identification is improved, but the drain becomes less inconspicuous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrand identificationVSAvoidinconspicuous design
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The brand name or logo is placed on the displaceable part of the grating, which is visible only when the displaceable part is in its protruding position. When the displaceable part is flush with the floor, the branding is concealed, maintaining aesthetic appearance while preserving brand identification capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The branding is localized to the displaceable part of the grating rather than being distributed across the entire grating structure. This allows branding to be present only where and when needed (on the movable portion), while the stationary portion remains aesthetically pleasing and inconspicuous.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2905388B1Drain with lifting means
Publication Date: 2019.08.28 EASY SANITAIRY SOLUTIONS BV
  • EP2905388B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2905388B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2905388B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a drain, comprising: - a collecting tray for collecting water for draining, wherein the collecting tray has an outlet opening for connection to an outlet pipe; and - a grating arranged in the collecting tray; wherein at least one part of the grating is displaceable between a first position, in which the at least one part of the grating lies flush with or below the upper surface of the grating, and a second position in which the at least one part of the grating lies above the level of the upper surface of the grating in the first position.