Adjustable Elongated Shower Drain for Single-Slope Tile Floors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in finding cost-effective, easily installable elongated shower drains suitable for residential use, as existing solutions are either too expensive or require skilled installation, and often necessitate complex tile work due to their design, which is not adaptable to varying tile thicknesses or shower stall sizes.
Innovation Solution
The development of elongated shower drain assemblies with adjustable components, such as side and end plates, and grate spacers, that allow for customizable installation to match the height of the drain grate with the tile and pan, and adjustable lengths to fit various shower stall dimensions, making it easier for DIY installation and accommodating different tile thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If elongated drains are used in residential structures, then the floor can be sloped in a single direction simplifying tile installation, but the drains are prohibitively expensive and difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
The drain assembly is divided into separate modular components including a drain body, adjustable height mechanism, and grate, allowing for easier handling and installation by DIYers while maintaining the single-slope floor configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The drain assembly incorporates adjustable height mechanisms that allow the drain grate to be positioned at different elevations to match varying tile thicknesses and floor configurations, providing adaptability without requiring complex custom installation
2Ease of manufacture
If elongated drains are used in residential structures, then the floor can be sloped in a single direction reducing tiling complexity, but the drains remain prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The drain system is broken into separate purchasable components that can be assembled by the homeowner, reducing the overall system cost while maintaining the functional benefits of an elongated drain for single-slope flooring
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs simpler, more affordable materials and construction methods compared to commercial elongated drains, creating a cost-effective solution specifically targeted at the residential market where absolute permanence is less critical than in commercial applications
3Ease of manufacture
If elongated drains are used, then tile installation is simplified with single-direction sloping, but the drain must be precisely leveled with the floor requiring skilled craftsmanship
Solution Approach 1:
The drain assembly includes adjustable height mechanisms that allow the installer to compensate for variations in tile thickness and floor level, eliminating the need for precise pre-leveling while maintaining a flush appearance with the surrounding tiles
Solution Approach 2:
The drain grate height can be adjusted to match different tile thicknesses and floor configurations, providing flexibility that eliminates the need for skilled craftsmanship to achieve proper leveling
4Ease of manufacture
If fixed-length elongated drains are used, then installation is straightforward, but they cannot accommodate varying shower stall sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The drain assembly is designed with modular components that can be configured in different lengths and arrangements to fit various shower stall dimensions while maintaining simple installation procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The drain system incorporates adjustable length and configuration options that allow it to adapt to different shower stall sizes without requiring complex custom fabrication or specialized installation skills
Data Source
AI summary
Elongated drain assemblies suitable for use in tiled shower stalls are described. Because the elongated drain is typically located at one edge of the shower stall proximate a stall wall and extends substantially the entire length of the wall, the installation of the associated shower pan is made much simpler. Specifically, the pan need only be sloped substantially in a single direction instead of four towards a prior art circular drain located at the center of a stall. The time and cost of creating a pan having a single slope is reduced over a more complex multi-sloped pan. Several different means for adjusting the height of the drain assemblies' top surfaces relative to the height of the tile floor are provided to adjust for tile floors of differing thicknesses. Various drain grates including a V-shaped drain grate and various spacers including an adjustable spacer are disclosed. Additionally a combination elongated drain assembly and shower door assembly is described.