Faucet Device With Integrated Air Drying to Prevent Floor Drips

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional faucet devices in bathrooms often result in residual water dripping on the floor due to inadequate drying solutions, leading to environmental hygiene and safety issues, as paper towels produce garbage and hand dryers are not conveniently located.

Innovation Solution

A faucet device with a water outlet and annular gas outlet system that allows simultaneous water and air stream output, integrated with a sterilizing and deodorizing assembly, enabling users to wash and dry hands without floor drips, using a base with water and gas inlet holes, and gas outlet channels for efficient drying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a hand dryer is provided on a wall by a distance with a sink, then users can dry hands after washing, but the location is not convenient and residual water may drop on the floor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of hand dryingVSAvoidfloor wetness and safety hazards
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the hand dryer function with the faucet device by integrating a gas outlet channel into the faucet base. The gas outlet holes are positioned around the water outlet portion, allowing users to dry hands directly at the faucet location without moving to a separate hand dryer, thus eliminating the convenience issue while preventing water droplets from falling on the floor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gas outlet channel acts as an intermediary structure that delivers drying air directly to the user's hands at the optimal position. This intermediary system bridges the gap between the water outlet and the user's hands, providing immediate drying capability right where hand washing occurs, thereby solving both the convenience and safety problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If paper towels are provided for removing remaining water on hands, then drying function is provided, but garbage is produced and inconvenience occurs when not refilled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehand drying availabilityVSAvoidgarbage production and refilling needs
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical paper towel system with a pneumatic drying system. Instead of using consumable paper towels that require refilling and disposal, compressed gas is delivered through the gas outlet channel to blow remaining water from hands. This substitution eliminates garbage production and refilling needs while maintaining continuous hand drying availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a faucet device outputs both water and air stream, then simultaneous washing and drying is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedual function of washing and dryingVSAvoidstructure with water and gas outlets
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality by integrating both water outlet and gas outlet channels into a single faucet device base. The base structure serves dual purposes: delivering water for hand washing through the water outlet portion and delivering compressed gas for hand drying through the gas outlet portion. This universal design allows one device to perform both washing and drying functions, enhancing adaptability while managing complexity through integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 faucet device effectively prevents floor drips by allowing users to dry hands with an air stream, improving hygiene and safety while providing an odourless, sterilized air output for enhanced cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

dry the remaining water on hands via the air stream outputted by the at least one gas outlet hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir stream flow:

Implementation Method 2

a gas in the sterilizing and deodorizing assembly enters the gas-supplying channel to flow with the gas in the gas-supplying channel to be outputted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSterilizing and deodorizing:

Data Source

PatentEP4283055A1Faucet device and drying apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 PURITY XIAMEN SANITARY WARE CO LTD
  • EP4283055A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4283055A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4283055A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A faucet device (1) includes a base (10), a water outlet portion (20), and an annular portion (30). The base (10) has a water inlet hole (104) and a gas inlet hole (106). An end of the water outlet portion (20) is connected to the base (10), and another end of the water outlet portion (20) has a water outlet hole (202). The water outlet portion (20) has a water outlet channel (204) communicating with the water inlet hole (104) and the water outlet hole (202). The annular portion (30) has two ends (30a) respectively connected to two opposite sides of the base (10), and surrounds the water outlet portion (20), and has at least one gas outlet hole (302) and a gas outlet channel (304) communicating with the gas inlet hole (106) and the at least one gas outlet hole (302).