Sink Drain Advertising Ring Alignment for Unobstructed Water Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for advertising near sink drains are limited by the functional and often bland appearance of drains, which hinders creative advertising placement without impeding water flow or requiring skilled labor for installation and removal.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a gage with a centered tip that fits into sink drain holes, allowing for the centered placement and easy installation of a planar material with indicia, such as a ring, without obstructing water flow, and can be removed without damaging the drain or sink.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If advertisements are placed on or near sink drains, then advertising visibility and aesthetic appeal are improved, but water flow may be obstructed and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The advertising ring is designed with selective opacity: the upper portion facing users is opaque for visible advertising, while the lower portion near the drain is transparent or open to allow water flow. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between advertising visibility and water flow maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The advertising solution transitions from two-dimensional flat surfaces (walls, counters) to a three-dimensional ring structure that wraps around the drain collar. This vertical dimension allows advertising placement that doesn't obstruct horizontal water flow, as water passes through the open lower portion while users view the advertising from above.
2Illumination intensity
If advertisements are placed on sink drains, then advertising visibility is improved, but installation and removal difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The advertising system is divided into separate components: a removable advertising ring and a permanent drain collar. The ring can be easily installed by snapping over the drain collar and removed by pulling off, requiring no special tools or skills. This segmentation enables easy installation and removal while maintaining visible advertising.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain collar serves as an intermediary element between the sink drain and the advertising ring. The ring attaches to the collar rather than directly to the sink, creating a simple mechanical interface that facilitates easy installation and removal without damaging the sink or requiring complex fastening mechanisms.
3Shape
If advertisements are placed on sink drains, then aesthetic appeal is improved, but risk of damage to drain or sink increases
Solution Approach 1:
The advertising ring is constructed from flexible materials such as vinyl or plastic that can conform to the drain collar shape without exerting excessive force. This flexibility allows aesthetic customization while preventing damage to the rigid drain or sink structure through gentle, adaptable contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The advertising ring covers only the upper portion of the drain collar, providing sufficient aesthetic improvement and advertising visibility without completely enclosing the drain. This partial coverage maintains the functional opening for water flow while achieving the desired aesthetic enhancement, reducing the risk of interference with drain operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for advertisements upon a ring has a gage of a short cylindrical shape with a centered tip. The gage aligns a planar material, or ring, placed outwardly upon it. The tip fits into any hole of a drain in a sink. The tip then aligns the gage, centering it upon the drain which leads to a centered application of the planar material upon the drain or nearby sink bowl. The gage has two surfaces, a top and an opposite bottom that has the tip joined thereto. Between the two surfaces and upon its perimeter, the gage has a wall with a slight outward flare with its wide portion towards the bottom. The flare centers the ring as a user places it upon the gage and moves it down to the drain. The user then removes the gage through the ring.