Folded-Edge Shower Drain for Watertight Sheet Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower drains face issues with watertightness due to adverse conditions during installation, where dust affects glue adhesion, and the width of traditional flanges limits their placement and depth in the floor, potentially leading to long-term leakage and uneven tile alignment.
Innovation Solution
A shower drain design featuring a folded edge that clamps a flexible sheet during manufacturing, eliminating the need for on-site gluing and allowing for flexible sheet placement without the constraints of traditional flanges, ensuring a secure and watertight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flexible sheet is adhered to the shower drain using glue on a flange during installation, then the shower drain can be assembled, but the adhesion quality deteriorates due to dust during on-site gluing
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sheet is adhered to the flange during manufacturing before the shower drain is installed. This preliminary action eliminates the need for on-site gluing, avoiding dust contamination and ensuring high adhesion quality. The shower drain is delivered pre-assembled with the flexible sheet already securely attached.
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing process itself performs the adhesion function that would otherwise require on-site installation work. The factory environment provides controlled conditions for gluing, and the product leaves the factory with the sealing already completed, making the installation process simpler and more reliable.
2Area of stationary object
If a wide flange is used to provide adequate glueing surface, then adhesion area is improved, but the shower drain cannot be placed close to the wall
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sheet is pre-adhered to the flange during manufacturing, creating a secure seal before installation. This allows the flange to be made narrow since the adhesion quality is ensured in the controlled factory environment rather than relying on on-site gluing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange width parameter is reduced from traditional wide dimensions to a narrow profile. This parameter change is made possible because the adhesion function is transferred to the manufacturing process, allowing the shower drain to be placed close to walls while maintaining adequate sealing.
3Ease of operation
If on-site gluing is performed to attach the flexible sheet, then installation can proceed, but leakage risk increases due to poor adhesion in dusty conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The critical adhesion operation is performed in advance during manufacturing under controlled factory conditions, eliminating dust-related adhesion problems. The shower drain arrives at the installation site with the flexible sheet already securely attached, reducing on-site work to simple placement and connection tasks.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the flange width is reduced to allow wall proximity installation, then placement flexibility is improved, but the glueing area is reduced affecting adhesion quality
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesion operation is completed during manufacturing with adequate flange width providing sufficient glueing area. Once the flexible sheet is securely attached in the factory, the flange can be made narrow for wall proximity installation without compromising adhesion quality, since the gluing already occurred under optimal conditions.
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
This design ensures consistent and high-quality attachment of the flexible sheet, allowing for secure placement against walls and under thick tiles, maintaining watertightness and improving installation conditions by eliminating the need for on-site gluing and reducing the risk of leakage.
Implementation Method 1
the part of the upright edge is a folded edge, wherein the at least one flexible sheet is clamped between the folded edge
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a shower drain, comprising: - a tray with a bottom surface and an upright edge along the bottom surface, wherein a draining opening is arranged in the bottom surface; - at least one flexible sheet arranged on the outside along a part of the upright edge; wherein the part of the upright edge is a folded edge, wherein the flexible sheet is clamped between the folded edge.