Foot-Actuated Drain Stopper Adapter for Universal Strainer Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain closure valves and concealing devices for wastewater strainers face challenges such as interference with internal components, compatibility issues with various strainer designs, and difficulty in retrofitting, leading to installation complexities and financial losses due to the lack of a 'one size fits all' solution.
Innovation Solution
A concealing device with a plate and adapter system that aligns with the strainer flange without extending into the strainer body, using flexible materials and adjustable features like tabs and grooves to accommodate different strainer sizes, and a foot-actuated drain stopper mechanism that is easy to install and use, ensuring compatibility with various strainer models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a concealing device with a downwardly-extending cylindrical portion is used to cover the strainer flange, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the device interferes with internal components of the strainer body and prevents proper engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The concealing device is divided into separate functional segments: a flange cover portion for aesthetic purposes and a carrier reception portion for functional operation. The cylindrical portion is segmented to allow rotation and selective engagement with the carrier, preventing interference with internal strainer components while maintaining aesthetic coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical portion is designed to be rotatable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. This rotation capability enables the device to engage with the carrier when needed while avoiding interference with internal components during installation and operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a universal concealing device is designed to fit various strainer models, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need to accommodate different designs
Solution Approach 1:
The concealing device is designed with universal features including an adjustable flange cover that can accommodate different strainer flange sizes and configurations. The carrier reception portion uses a standardized rotatable cylindrical mechanism that works with various carrier types, making the device universally applicable across different strainer models without requiring complex model-specific adaptations.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates adjustable parameters such as the diameter and length of the cylindrical portion, which can be modified to match different strainer specifications. The flange cover can be adjusted to fit various flange configurations, allowing the same basic design to adapt to multiple strainer models through parameter variation rather than structural redesign.
3Manufacturing precision
If the cylindrical portion of the concealing device extends into the strainer body, then alignment is improved, but interference with internal components such as spokes and cross members occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the cylindrical portion deeply into the strainer body along the vertical axis, the device uses radial adjustment mechanisms and rotational movement to achieve alignment. The cylindrical portion can rotate to align with the carrier opening while maintaining a limited extension depth that avoids interfering with internal components like spokes and cross members.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier itself acts as an intermediary element that facilitates alignment between the concealing device and the strainer body. The rotatable cylindrical portion engages with the carrier opening, using the carrier as a mediating structure to achieve precise alignment without the cylindrical portion needing to extend deeply into the strainer body where it would interfere with internal components.
Data Source
AI summary
A foot-actuated drain stopper is provided that is interconnected to a strainer of a wastewater outlet of a bathtub. The foot-actuated drain stopper is interconnected to the strainer by way of an adapter that includes a hub that receives a carrier on which the foot-actuated stopper travels.