Drinking Fountain With Dual Height Bubblers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking fountains require separate installations for different spout heights to comply with regulations, increasing space and cost requirements.
Innovation Solution
A drinking fountain design with a basin featuring two mounting points at different heights to accommodate two bubblers with varying spout heights, allowing a single unit to serve individuals with different height requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two separate drinking fountains are installed to provide different spout heights, then regulatory compliance is achieved, but space requirements and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate drinking fountain units into a single integrated fountain structure that houses two bubblers at different heights. This merging approach maintains regulatory compliance by providing both required spout heights while reducing the total space occupied compared to installing two separate fountains side by side.
Solution Approach 2:
The single drinking fountain unit performs multiple functions by accommodating two bubblers with different spout heights within one structure. This multi-functional design allows the fountain to serve different user height requirements simultaneously, replacing the need for two separate single-function fountains.
2Reliability
If two separate drinking fountains are installed to provide different spout heights, then regulatory compliance is achieved, but purchase cost and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate fountain systems into one unified structure, reducing the total number of units that need to be purchased and installed. This consolidation directly lowers both purchase costs and installation expenses while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements for different spout heights.
Solution Approach 2:
The single fountain unit is designed with multi-functionality to accommodate different spout heights, eliminating the need to purchase and install two separate fountains. This approach reduces overall project costs for both materials and labor while ensuring regulatory compliance.
3Reliability
If two separate drinking fountains are installed to provide different spout heights, then regulatory compliance is achieved, but the number of drain lines and water sources required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drainage and water supply systems of two separate fountains into a single integrated system. This merging reduces the total number of drain lines and water sources required, simplifying installation and reducing material requirements while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements for different spout heights.
Solution Approach 2:
The single fountain structure incorporates multi-functional capabilities to handle different water flow paths and drainage requirements within one system. This universal design reduces the complexity of installing multiple separate drain lines and water sources that would be needed for two independent fountains.
Data Source
AI summary
A drinking fountain includes two bubblers, above a basin, with a single fresh water connection, and a single drain to drain the basin. The bubblers have outlets for providing water in an arc for drinking, where the outlet heights differ in height by at least two inches, and one outlet is 36 inches or less, and the other is at least 38 inches, above the finished floor. The bubblers are each mounted on a mounting point on the fountain. The mounting points may be at different heights, and the height of the bubbler to the outlet may be the same, or the mounting points may be at the same height, and the heights of each bubbler to its outlet may be different. The basin may include an extension to provide a higher mounting point for one of the bubblers.