Drainage Gutter Cover Height Adjustment via Bridge Inserts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drainage channel systems face issues with impaired water drainage due to support frames or bases, leading to foam formation, contamination, and hygienic risks, as well as being inflexible with settling shower floors, resulting in potential damage and water leaks.

Innovation Solution

A drainage channel system with a cross-sectional profile forming at least five surfaces, including a V-shaped indentation and two vertical surfaces, featuring bridge-like insert parts that support the cover without obstructing water flow, and adjustable flanges for optimal alignment with subfloors, ensuring efficient drainage and adaptability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If support frames or bases are used to support the cover, then the cover can be adjusted in height, but water drainage is impeded and foam formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover height adjustmentVSAvoidwater drainage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the support frames or bases from the drainage channel interior and replaces them with support elements that are integrated into the channel walls. This extraction eliminates the obstacles that impeded water flow and caused foam formation, while still providing the necessary support for height-adjustable covers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support elements are merged with the channel structure itself, combining the functions of structural support and water guidance. The support elements are formed as integral parts of the channel walls, eliminating the need for separate support frames while maintaining cover height adjustability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If support frames or bases are installed in the drainage channel, then the cover can be supported at adjustable heights, but cleaning effort increases due to fixed obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover height adjustmentVSAvoidcleaning effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By removing the separate support frames or bases from the channel interior, the invention eliminates the fixed obstacles that made cleaning difficult. The support elements are integrated into the channel walls, creating a smooth, continuous surface that is easy to clean.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If the drainage channel has a simple cross-sectional profile with 2-3 surfaces, then manufacturing is simpler, but water drainage becomes stagnant and contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel profile complexityVSAvoidwater drainage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs an asymmetric cross-sectional profile with at least five surfaces, including inclined drainage surfaces that guide water flow efficiently toward the outlet. This asymmetric design prevents stagnant water accumulation and reduces contamination risks while remaining manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Ease of operation

If leveling screws or support bases are screwed to the solid floor, then the cover can be adjusted to the floor level, but the system cannot adapt if the shower floor settles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover height adjustmentVSAvoidadaptability to floor settling
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces fixed support frames with height-adjustable support elements that can be repositioned. This dynamic design allows the support elements to be moved to new positions if the shower floor settles, maintaining proper cover alignment and preventing damage to sealing joints and panels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2354341B1Drainage gutter with a height-adjustable cover
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 SANIPAT GMBH
  • EP2354341B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2354341B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2354341B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The drain gutter system (100) has a drain gutter (1) with a recess (6) in cross-section having four surfaces in form of two vertical supporting surfaces opposite to each other and two inclined supporting surfaces. A leveling screw is a vertically adjustable support head in a thread of the beam-like inserts (8a to 8e).