Floor Drain Connection Frame with Segmented Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor drain designs either require precise installation due to fixed side walls, preventing drainage from adjacent floor areas or have inaccessible gaps that collect moisture and dirt, making them unsuitable for hygienic environments and increasing installation effort.
Innovation Solution
A connecting frame with folded screen end regions forming a one-piece structure, where passage openings are arranged adjacent to the screens, allowing for drainage and easy cleaning, and the frame can be aligned relative to the floor covering, preventing moisture accumulation and facilitating production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If side walls shield the adjacent floor covering, then the floor covering is protected from direct contact with collection basin, but drainage from laterally adjoining floor covering is prevented and moisture accumulates
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is segmented into an upper shielding portion and a lower drainage portion with through-openings. The upper portion protects the floor covering from direct contact with waste water in the collection basin, while the lower portion with through-openings allows drainage of moisture from the laterally adjoining floor covering to the collection basin, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall acts as an intermediary structure that simultaneously provides protection and enables drainage. By incorporating through-openings in the lower region of the side wall, it mediates between the need to shield the floor covering from harmful factors (waste water) and the need to allow drainage of moisture from the adjacent floor area.
2Stability of the object's composition
If connecting frame is fixed precisely relative to collection basin, then structural stability is improved, but subsequent alignment relative to floor covering becomes impossible and installation effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting frame is designed with dynamic positioning capability through laterally movable connection flanges that can be adjusted within a tolerance range on the collection basin. This allows the frame to be first stably attached to the collection basin and then subsequently aligned with the floor covering by adjusting the position of the connection flanges, thus maintaining both structural stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection flanges are preliminarily attached to the collection basin with adjustable positioning features that allow for subsequent alignment. The flanges can be temporarily positioned and adjusted before final fixation, enabling the connecting frame to achieve both stable attachment to the collection basin and proper alignment with the floor covering.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If intermediate spaces and gaps are created in connecting frame, then drainage capability is improved, but hygiene requirements cannot be met due to moisture and dirt collection in inaccessible areas
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful intermediate spaces and gaps that trap moisture and dirt are completely removed from the connecting frame design. Instead, through-openings are integrated directly into the side walls, eliminating dead spaces where contamination could accumulate. This extraction of problematic spaces maintains drainage capability while ensuring all surfaces are accessible for cleaning and meet hygiene standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The side walls are designed with through-openings that function as porous structures, allowing moisture to pass through from the laterally adjoining floor covering to the collection basin. These through-openings provide drainage functionality without creating intermediate spaces or gaps that would trap moisture and dirt, thus maintaining both drainage capability and hygiene standards.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate connecting frame and collection basin are used, then assembly flexibility is improved, but manufacturing and assembly effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting frame and collection basin are merged into a single integrated component with the connecting frame formed as one piece with the collection basin. The side walls of the collection basin directly form the connecting frame structure, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly operations. This merging maintains assembly flexibility while significantly reducing manufacturing and assembly effort.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
In a connection frame (5) for a floor drain (1) with frame walls (8) surrounding an interior (9) of the connection frame (5) and with connection flanges (6) projecting laterally from the frame walls (8) below the upper frame edges for supporting the connection frame (5) on a collection basin (2) and for fixing the connection frame (5) in a laterally adjacent floor covering, passage openings (13) and covers (11) are arranged in a transition area (12) from the connection flanges (6) to the frame walls (8). These covers (11) shield the passage openings (13) from the interior (9) of the connection frame (5). A lower edge of the cover (11) extends below the passage openings (13). The covers (11) are formed on the frame walls (8) by bent frame wall end regions arranged substantially parallel to the frame walls (8). The apertures (11) are arranged to lie close to the frame walls (8) at least in certain areas.The covers (11) have recesses or projections for attaching a cover (15) arranged between the frame walls (8) in the connecting frame (5). The covers (11) have several tongue-shaped projections (16) extending into the interior (9) of the connecting frame (5), each forming a substantially horizontal bearing surface for a cover (15) arranged between the frame walls (8) of the connecting frame (5). The frame walls (8) and the covers (11) of the connecting frame (5) are formed in one piece. The lower end edges of the covers (11) form drip edges (18) for liquid exiting from the through-openings (13).