Flexible Urinal Splashback Insert With Segmented Pebble Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional urinal anti-splashback devices are bulky, inefficiently use materials, and fail to fit correctly across a range of urinals, limiting their effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

An insert for urinals featuring a central portion extending across the drain with radially outward outer portions, pebble features, spacers, and V-shaped gaps, composed of injection-molded plastic like EVA rubberized plastic, designed to fit various urinals and reduce splashback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If conventional urinal anti-splashback devices are used, then splashback prevention function is provided, but the devices are bulky and use more material than necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial usageVSAvoiddevice bulkiness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The insert is divided into a central portion and multiple outer portions that can be spaced apart, with each portion containing pebble features. This segmentation reduces overall material usage while maintaining splashback prevention functionality across the urinal drain area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insert employs pebble features with spaces between them and openings between pebbles and spacers, creating a porous structure that prevents splashback while using minimal material. The porous design allows fluid flow through while intercepting droplets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional urinal anti-splashback devices are used, then splashback prevention is provided, but the devices cannot fit correctly across a range of different shaped urinals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefit across different urinalsVSAvoideffective splashback prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The outer portions are spaced apart rather than rigidly connected, allowing the insert to flex and adapt to different urinal shapes and drain configurations. This dynamic structure maintains reliable splashback prevention across various urinal geometries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The insert design with central and outer portions can accommodate different urinal shapes and drain sizes, making it a universal solution that fits various urinal types while maintaining effective splashback prevention functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional urinal anti-splashback devices are used, then splashback prevention is provided, but the devices are not able to be used effectively over a range of different shaped urinals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different urinal shapesVSAvoidinstallation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented design with central and outer portions allows the insert to be installed across different urinal shapes by adjusting the spacing between portions, improving installation effectiveness while maintaining compatibility with various urinal configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250305268A1Urinal Anti-splashback device

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 READ MATTHEW

AI summary

An insert for a urinal configured in use to prevent splashback, the insert comprising a central portion for extending across a drain of a urinal, and a plurality of spaced apart outer portions extending radially outwardly from the central portion and defining gaps between adjacent outer portions, in which the central portion and each outer portion comprises: a plurality of spaced apart pebble features, in which each pebble feature comprises a mound having a domed surface; and a plurality of spacers, in which each spacer adjoins adjacent pebble features in a configuration such that each pebble feature is adjoined to at least one adjacent pebble feature, and in which openings providing a fluid flowpath are defined between the pebble features and the spacers.