Grommet Assembly for Leak-Resistant Bathing Installation Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional installation methods for spa tub fittings are labor-intensive and prone to leaks due to weight, vibration, and temperature changes causing the fittings to shift over time, leading to leaks through the tub wall openings.
Innovation Solution
A grommet assembly with a resilient material and unique internal peripheral recess and external rib configuration that locks the fitting in place, eliminating the need for a securing nut and reducing the risk of the fitting creeping out of the shell hole.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional installation techniques are used with securing nuts, then the fitting can be initially attached to the tub wall, but the weight, vibration and temperature changes cause the fitting to shift and leak over time
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet is pre-installed in the tub wall opening before the fitting is attached. This preliminary action creates a pre-positioned sealing and locking mechanism that prevents the fitting from shifting during subsequent installation and use, eliminating the leakage problem that occurs with conventional post-installation securing methods
Solution Approach 2:
The grommet serves as an intermediary component between the tub wall and the fitting. It provides both sealing against the tub wall and mechanical engagement with the fitting, mediating the connection and preventing direct stress transmission that would cause shifting and leakage over time
2Ease of operation
If conventional grommet installation is used without locking features, then the fitting can be inserted through the tub wall, but the fitting can be extracted or creep out of the shell hole due to weight and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet features an asymmetric design with an internal peripheral recess that does not have a matching protrusion on the fitting, creating a one-way locking mechanism. The recess allows the fitting to be inserted easily while preventing extraction, as the asymmetric geometry blocks reverse movement without requiring additional securing components
Solution Approach 2:
The grommet is divided into functional segments: a sealing portion that contacts the tub wall, a locking portion with the internal recess that engages the fitting, and a reinforcement rib that provides structural support. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple securing components are used to prevent fitting extraction, then the fitting position can be stabilized, but the assembly process becomes more complex and labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet combines multiple functions into a single component: sealing against the tub wall, mechanical locking of the fitting, and structural reinforcement. This merging eliminates the need for separate securing nuts, washers, and other components, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining stability
Solution Approach 2:
The grommet's internal peripheral recess automatically locks the fitting in place through its asymmetric geometry. The fitting's own insertion action creates the locked state without requiring additional securing operations, and the design self-regulates to prevent extraction without needing external monitoring or adjustment
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
The grommet assembly provides a secure and leak-resistant installation by resisting extraction of the fitting, reducing the risk of leaks and simplifying the assembly process by eliminating the need for precise torque and additional components.
Implementation Method 1
The grommet is fabricated of a resilient material such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) or other elastomer
Implementation Method 2
An external reinforcement rib can be provided on the grommet to resist extraction of the fitting through the shell hole
Data Source
AI summary
A fitting assembly for installation in an opening in a tub shell wall of a bathing installation tub. A resilient grommet is sized to be inserted into the opening and has an interior peripheral recess defined in a wall portion, having a recess cross-sectional configuration. A fitting body has a protruding external rib having a rib cross-sectional configuration complimentary to the recess cross-sectional configuration, the rib positioned on the fitting body so that when the fitting body is inserted into the grommet, the rib is received into the recess on the grommet. The grommet and fitting are configured such that the recess and the rib are positioned behind the back surface of the shell wall when installed in the opening, and the grommet is compressed by the edge of the shell opening and pushed outwardly by the rib to lock the fitting into the shell opening.