Flooring Element Drain Path Using Surface-Tension Breaking Fingers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flooring elements, such as tiles, suffer from water pooling due to surface tension, which prevents water from draining away, even with a constructed fall, violating building regulations on standing water limits.
Innovation Solution
A device with a planar main body and orthogonal fingers is mounted adjacent to flooring elements, breaking surface tension to create a drain path for water, utilizing capillary action and gravity for drainage, with optional retaining projections for secure installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water is allowed to flow naturally on the flooring surface, then water drainage occurs, but surface tension prevents water from flowing down the side edge causing pooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hydrophilic coating as an intermediary substance between the water and the flooring surface. This coating reduces surface tension and creates a preferential path for water to follow, enabling water to overcome the hydrophobic nature of materials like porcelain tiles and drain effectively down the side edges
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface properties of the flooring element by applying a hydrophilic coating that changes the surface energy characteristics. This parameter change transforms the surface from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, fundamentally altering how water interacts with the surface and enabling effective drainage
2Productivity
If a fall is constructed to promote drainage, then water flow is improved, but pooling still occurs due to surface tension
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophilic coating acts as a mediator that works in conjunction with the constructed fall. While the fall provides the gravitational driving force, the coating reduces surface tension and creates a preferential path, ensuring water follows the fall geometry effectively and drains to the edge without pooling
3Reliability
If flooring elements are made from materials like porcelain tiles, then aesthetic and durability requirements are met, but surface tension causes greater water pooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a localized hydrophilic coating treatment to specific areas of the flooring element, particularly around the periphery and drainage paths. This local quality change allows the bulk material to maintain its durable porcelain tile properties while the coated zones provide enhanced water drainage functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining the base flooring material (porcelain tile) with a hydrophilic coating layer. This composite approach allows the system to benefit from both the durability and aesthetics of porcelain tiles and the water-draining properties of hydrophilic surfaces
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
Effectively drains pooled water from flooring elements, ensuring compliance with building regulations by minimizing standing water, suitable for retrofitting existing installations and new constructions.
Implementation Method 1
One possible cause of the pooling is believed to be surface tension, which may prevent the water from flowing from the top surface of the flooring element
Implementation Method 2
The water travels along the finger, believed to be the result of capillary action
Implementation Method 3
the drain path turns through 90 degrees and drains down the main body under gravity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device 101 configured to provide a drain path for water away from the top surface of a flooring element such as a tile. The device has a substantially planar main body 110 and a plurality of fingers 120 extending from the main body in an orthogonal direction. When the device is mounted adjacent to the flooring element in use with the main body substantially parallel to the side edge of the flooring element, the fingers 120 extend parallel to and contact the top surface of the flooring element such that a drain path is provided from the top surface of the flooring element, via the fingers, to the main body. In one embodiment, an insert 100 for mounting between two flooring elements is formed from two devices 101 connected by a resilient hinge 102 at their bases. A drainage aperture 103 is provided at the base. Retaining projections 130 may be provided which extend out of the plane of the main body and which are configured to retain the insert in the mounted position between two flooring elements.