Drain Stopper with Spring-Loaded Jaws for Tool-Free Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain stopper devices require access to cramped spaces underneath sinks and bathtubs for installation, repair, and maintenance, posing difficulties due to physical constraints and the need for specialized tools and knowledge, making them challenging for individuals to manage damage or clogs without professional assistance.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained drain stopper device with spring-activated jaws and a push-button assembly that allows attachment and removal from above the drain, eliminating the need for tools and access to underneath spaces, featuring a disc-shaped stopper head and internal shaft with a set of spring-loaded jaws that can be opened and closed by pressing a push button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional drain stopper devices are used, then the stopper can be controlled via a pivot rod and knob assembly, but access to the cramped space underneath the sink or bathtub is required for installation, repair, and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the stopper device from its traditional mounted position underneath the sink and extracts it to a location above the drain. The stopper is now self-contained with an internal pivot rod mechanism that eliminates the need for external pivot rods and knob assemblies located in the cramped space underneath the sink, allowing users to access and operate the stopper from above the drain.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper device is designed to be self-contained with all necessary components (pivot rod, jaws, spring mechanism) integrated into a single unit that can be independently installed, removed, and operated above the drain without requiring access to the space underneath the sink or bathtub for maintenance or repair.
2Reliability
If a pivot rod and knob bracket assembly is used, then the stopper can be mechanically controlled, but specialized tools and plumbing knowledge are required for repair
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper device is segmented into distinct functional components: the stopper head, the internal pivot rod, the spring-loaded jaws, and the release mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be independently designed, inspected, and replaced without requiring disassembly of the entire assembly or access to cramped spaces underneath the sink.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates a user-friendly release mechanism that allows homeowners to easily repair or replace the stopper without needing specialized plumbing tools or professional assistance. The spring-loaded jaws and release button system enables simple manual operation for both normal use and maintenance activities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the stopper is attached to a pivot rod extending through a bracket, then mechanical communication with the faucet knob is achieved, but access to the enclosed space below the sink is required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the pivot rod from underneath the sink upward through a bracket to reach the stopper, the patent inverts the arrangement by placing the stopper above the drain with the pivot rod contained within the stopper body. The mechanical control is achieved through a release mechanism on the stopper head itself, eliminating the need for external brackets and knobs in the enclosed space below the sink.
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
Enables easy and tool-free removal and installation of the stopper device, reducing the need for physical access to cramped areas, simplifying maintenance and repair, and reducing costs associated with professional assistance for common issues like clogs and damaged stoppers.
Implementation Method 1
a set of spring-loaded and repositionable jaws attached to a second opposing end of the shaft. More specifically, the jaws are attached to the shaft via a hinge pin that allows the jaws to open/close when a user presses or releases the push-button
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to plumbing fixtures, and more particularly to drain stopper assemblies used to control the flow of fluid through a drain opening of a sink or bathtub. More specifically, the present invention is a novel drain stopper device that can be attached or removed from a drain without the use of tools and without requiring a user to access the space underneath the drain. The device is preferably comprised of a drain stopper head portion having a repositionable push button in mechanical communication with a spring, a shaft and a pair of repositionable jaws such that the pair of jaws are repositioned to grip or release a pivot rod when the push button is repositioned between a first and a second position.