Simplified Drain Plug With Single Spring and Magnetic Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain plug designs for tubs and sinks are complex, costly, and require multiple springs for overflow and tip-toe functionality, making them difficult to install and adjust, with inefficient water height adjustment mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A simplified drain plug assembly using a single compression spring and magnetic attraction to combine overflow and tip-toe functionality, with an adjustable screw for varying water height and reduced part count, allowing for easier installation and adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple springs are used for overflow and tip-toe functionality, then the drain plug achieves reliable overflow protection and sealing, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the overflow protection function and tip-toe sealing function into a single integrated drain plug assembly. The single spring serves dual purposes: providing the force for overflow protection through the first position and maintaining the water seal through the second position, eliminating the need for separate springs for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The single spring in the drain plug assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously. It provides the restoring force for overflow protection, maintains the water seal, and enables the tip-toe operation. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of parts while maintaining system reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple springs and complex mechanisms are used, then the drain plug achieves precise water height control, but the manufacturing cost and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from traditional drain plug designs. By removing redundant springs and simplifying the mechanism to use a single spring with a streamlined body structure, the design reduces manufacturing complexity while preserving the precision water height control through optimized geometric features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves precise water height control by optimizing geometric parameters and dimensions of the simplified single-spring mechanism rather than relying on multiple components. The precise control is achieved through carefully designed dimensions of the plug body, seal elements, and spring characteristics, demonstrating that parameter optimization can replace complex multi-component solutions.
3Reliability
If traditional multi-spring designs are used, then the drain plug provides robust overflow protection, but the adjustment mechanism for water height becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows the water height control parameter to be dynamically modified after installation. The adjustment feature enables users to change the water height setting by simple manipulation of the plug assembly, making the system adaptable to different usage requirements while maintaining robust overflow protection through the single spring mechanism.
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
The solution reduces installation complexity and cost, enhances robustness, and provides efficient water management by using a single spring for both overflow and sealing functions, with adjustable water height settings, improving user experience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A compression spring 32 is disposed between the upper plug body and the lower plug body. The compression spring biases the upper plug body to translate away from the lower plug body.
Implementation Method 2
The first permanent magnet is magnetically attracted to the second permanent magnet
Data Source
AI summary
An overflow drain assembly includes a housing configured to be installed at a bottom of a basin. A plug assembly is configured to be disposed within the housing and has an upper and lower plug body translatable to each other. A fluidic seal is attached to the upper plug body and configured to removably engage in a water tight manner with a top side water inlet of the housing. A single compression spring is disposed between and biases apart the upper and lower plug body. A first permanent magnet attached to the lower plug body is above a second permanent magnet attached to the upper plug body. The upper plug body is configured to be manually pushed downward a first time by a user to automatically lock into an open position and manually pushed downward a second time to automatically raise and lock into a closed position.