Drain Seal Assembly with Upright Strip for Corner Waterproofing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sealing drains, particularly in corners where surfaces converge at right angles, are unreliable due to thickness variations, require wide adhesive edges, and are difficult to install without additional stock and adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A combination of a drain and a seal where the seal extends upward from the underside of the drain, forming an upright strip, with a fixing plate and a flexible membrane that adheres to the underside, providing a reliable seal and allowing for minimal upper-side flange, enabling easy installation with adjustable fastening means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible membrane is folded to form a corner seal, then the corner sealing capability is improved, but thickness variations are formed which are difficult to incorporate in a finishing layer
Solution Approach 1:
The corner piece is divided into two separate components: a rigid support structure (forming the corner geometry) and a flexible membrane (providing the seal). This segmentation allows the rigid part to maintain precise thickness and geometry while the flexible membrane conforms to the corner shape without creating thickness variations in the finishing layer.
Solution Approach 2:
A rigid intermediary structure (the corner piece support) is introduced between the flexible membrane and the finishing layer. This intermediary maintains a uniform reference surface for the finishing layer while allowing the flexible membrane to seal the corner effectively without transmitting its thickness variations to the finishing layer.
2Shape
If individual parts are assembled to form a corner piece, then the corner geometry can be achieved, but a good seal cannot be formed at the convergence position of bottom surface and side surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane is used as the sealing element in the corner piece assembly. This flexible membrane can conform to the corner geometry formed by the rigid parts while maintaining continuous contact with all surfaces (bottom and side surfaces), ensuring a reliable seal at the convergence position where rigid parts would create gaps.
3Reliability
If a preformed corner piece is used, then a reliable seal can be obtained, but an adhesive edge of at least 5 centimetres is required which is not always available
Solution Approach 1:
The corner piece is designed with differentiated local properties: a rigid support structure providing geometric stability and positioning, and a flexible membrane providing the sealing function with adequate adhesive edge. This allows the adhesive edge to be sufficient for reliable bonding without requiring 5 cm width, as the rigid structure provides structural integrity.
4Shape
If a flat plate with opening is used, then the outflow opening is defined, but positioning adjustments and variations are not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The corner piece design incorporates adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow the flat plate with outflow opening to be dynamically repositioned during installation. This enables adaptation to different installation scenarios and positioning requirements while maintaining the defined outflow opening geometry, making the system versatile rather than fixed.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A combination of a drain (2), such as an outlet drain or shower drain, and a seal (3, 11, 12), wherein the drain has an inflow opening arranged on the upper side, wherein the seal is arranged against the underside of the drain and wherein the seal extends upward from the underside, along and beyond the upper side, at a corner and along the periphery of the drain, such that an upright free strip is formed.