Expandable Drain Hair Trap with Hinged Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain designs with narrow, elongate inflow openings make it impossible to place a dirt trap with a diameter equal to or greater than the outflow opening, limiting the ability to capture hair and dirt effectively, as the device cannot pass through the narrow slot and cover the larger outflow opening.
Innovation Solution
A device with adjustable capturing elements that can be compressed to fit through the inflow opening and expand to cover the outflow opening, utilizing hinged arms, spring means, and comb-like or spiral-shaped capturing elements to ensure the device remains in position and captures debris, while also being removable through the inflow opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dirt trap with diameter equal to or greater than the outflow opening is placed in the drain, then the ability to capture hair and dirt is improved, but the device cannot pass through the narrow inflow opening
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs dynamic dimensions through hinged arms that can change the diameter of the dirt trap. The arms can be folded to reduce the diameter for insertion through the narrow inflow opening, then unfolded to expand the diameter for effective dirt capture at the outflow opening. This dynamic transformation allows the same device to satisfy both size constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The dirt trap is divided into a base part and multiple hinged arms that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the arms to be folded against the base part for insertion, then deployed outward to form the complete circular dirt trap structure at the outflow opening, effectively solving the size contradiction.
2Ease of manufacture
If the inflow opening is made narrow and elongate to be less visible, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the device cannot be inserted or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The device's dynamic dimension-changing capability allows it to be compact for insertion through the narrow aesthetic inflow opening, then expand to a larger functional size for dirt capture. This resolves the contradiction between aesthetic appearance and operational ease.
3Productivity
If the outflow opening diameter is increased to maintain water discharge, then the water flow capability is improved, but the device becomes difficult to insert through the inflow opening
Solution Approach 1:
The device maintains a large outflow opening diameter for optimal water discharge while having the capability to dynamically reduce its insertion dimension by folding the hinged arms. This allows the device to pass through the narrow inflow opening and then expand to cover the larger outflow opening effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the device into a base part and hinged arms, the structure can be compacted for insertion while maintaining the capability to form a large circular opening at the outflow for optimal water flow and dirt capture.
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
The device effectively captures hair and dirt by expanding to cover the outflow opening, ensuring efficient water discharge and easy removal by returning to its compressed state for extraction through the inflow opening, thus addressing the limitations of prior art designs.
Implementation Method 1
spring means arranged between the depending arms for urging the capturing elements into the second position
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for capturing hair and other dirt in a drain with an inflow opening and an outflow opening, wherein at least one main dimension of an access opening of the drain for insertion of the device is smaller than the main dimensions of the outflow opening, which device comprises: - a base part; and - at least two capturing elements arranged on the base part and displaceable relative to each other, wherein in a first position of the capturing elements one main dimension of the device is smaller than or equal to the at least one main dimension of the access opening and wherein in a second position of the capturing elements this one main dimension is greater than the at least one main dimension of the access opening and preferably greater than or equal to the main dimensions of the outflow opening.