Drain strainer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bathroom sink stopper and strainer assemblies face issues such as misalignment, clogging, and difficulty in accessing and replacing the strainer, leading to inefficiencies and potential loss of items down the drain.

Innovation Solution

A stopper assembly with a removable strainer cartridge that allows for easy replacement of the strainer element without direct contact with debris, featuring a detachable stopper head and strainer design with actuatable elements for selective release and reattachment, enabling efficient debris removal and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional strainer is installed in the drain system, then debris can be filtered, but the strainer becomes difficult to access for cleaning and replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris filtrationVSAvoidstrainer accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The drain system is divided into separate functional components: the stopper body remains fixed in the drain pipe, while the stopper head with integrated strainer can be detached. This segmentation allows the strainer to remain installed for continuous filtration while enabling easy removal of the stopper head assembly for strainer cleaning or replacement without disassembling the drain system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper head serves as an intermediary component that bridges the strainer and the stopper body. It provides a removable interface that allows the strainer to be accessed for maintenance while maintaining its position in the drain system during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the stopper head is permanently attached to the stopper body, then structural stability is maintained, but the strainer cannot be easily replaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestopper assembly stabilityVSAvoidstrainer replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the stopper head and stopper body transitions from a static permanent attachment to a dynamic selectively detachable connection. The stopper head can be firmly attached during normal use to maintain stability, but can be detached when strainer maintenance is required, providing both stability and ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the strainer is directly exposed to debris, then effective filtration is achieved, but sanitation becomes difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration effectivenessVSAvoidsanitation maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The strainer is extracted from the fixed drain system and integrated into the removable stopper head assembly. This allows the strainer to remain in contact with debris for effective filtration while enabling the entire stopper head assembly to be removed and sanitized externally, or the strainer to be replaced without compromising sanitation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10501917B2Drain strainer

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 ALI NAUSHAD

AI summary

A stopper assembly for a drain system of a fluid basin and related methods, systems and components. The stopper head assembly includes a stopper head having a seal to sealingly engage the drain system of the fluid basin when the stopper assembly is moved from a drain position to a plug position and a strainer to strain fluid passing through the drain system when the stopper head is in a drain position.