Foam Block Floor Drain with Segmented Insulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor drain systems face challenges in integrating a water drain into the floor construction without altering the geometry of the shower area or other walk-on floors, while providing effective sound insulation and anchoring without geometric constraints.

Innovation Solution

A foam block design that accommodates a water drain's pipeline with a vertical inlet area and horizontal elbow, allowing for simple mounting and protection, while being narrower than traditional boards to avoid predetermining the floor geometry, and featuring a multi-part configuration for easy assembly and sound insulation, with separable shell parts and a clamp for secure anchoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional boards are used to accommodate floor drains, then the pipeline can be protected and mounted, but the basic geometry of the shower area is predetermined and cannot be freely designed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepipeline mounting and protectionVSAvoidfloor geometry design freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The foam block is divided into a first foam block accommodating the pipeline and a second foam block forming the floor structure, allowing independent optimization of pipeline protection and floor geometry without mutual constraint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first foam block acts as an intermediary element between the pipeline and the floor structure, providing protective accommodation while allowing the second foam block to freely define the floor geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the foam block bridges the entire intermediate thickness between raw floor and floor covering, then the floor drain is fully integrated, but the floor structure cannot be adjusted or modified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloor drain integrationVSAvoidfloor structure adjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The foam block is segmented into separate functional portions: a first portion for pipeline accommodation and a second portion for floor structure formation, enabling independent adjustment of each component while maintaining overall integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The separable design of the foam blocks provides dynamic adjustability to the floor structure while the pipeline accommodation remains stable and fixed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the foam block is made narrow to avoid predetermining floor geometry, then design freedom is increased, but the pipeline protection and sound insulation may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloor geometry design freedomVSAvoidsound insulation and pipeline protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented foam block design allows the first foam block to be sufficiently wide for pipeline protection and sound insulation, while the overall floor structure remains adaptable through the separate second foam block

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2995729B1Water drain device with foam block

Publication Date: 2018.11.21 GEBERIT INT AG

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AI summary

The invention relates to a floor drain, for example for a shower, with a foam block (1) for holding a pipe section (4,9,12,13) in the screed.