Hardfoam shower base element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foam shower floor elements face challenges in achieving a low overall structure height, favorable pre-assembly, especially at critical sealing transitions, and high drainage capacity, while also requiring floor-level and floor-flush installation.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a drain pipe and channel arranged in a common elongated receiving part, with a hump-like floor course creating flow obstacles, allowing the pipe ceiling to be lowered and forming an odor trap, and a tiered arrangement where the drain channel and odor trap are at the same overall height, eliminating the need for space-consuming elements like pipe elbows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If traditional drain configurations with pipe elbows and separate odor trap components are used, then the drainage function is achieved, but the overall structure height increases and floor-level installation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drain pipe, odor trap, and drainage channel into a single integrated receiving part. The drain pipe is formed directly within the receiving part with hump-like courses that create flow obstacles, eliminating the need for separate pipe elbows and odor trap components. This merging reduces the overall structure height and enables floor-level installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional arrangement with vertical pipe elbows to a two-dimensional planar configuration where the drain pipe runs horizontally within the receiving part. The odor trap is formed by vertical flow deflection within the horizontal pipe, changing the spatial arrangement from vertical stacking to horizontal integration, thereby reducing structure height.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components (drain pipe, odor trap, drainage channel) are used, then each component can be optimized independently, but the pre-assembly complexity and sealing transition difficulties increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drain pipe, odor trap, and drainage channel are merged into a single receiving part formed as one integrated component. This eliminates multiple sealing transitions between separate components and simplifies pre-assembly, as the entire drainage system can be installed as a single unit without complex sealing operations.
3Device complexity
If the drain pipe and drainage channel are arranged in separate receiving parts, then component independence is maintained, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drain pipe and drainage channel into a single receiving part, reducing device complexity from multiple separate components to one integrated unit. This simplification maintains all necessary drainage functions while significantly easing assembly operations.
4Productivity
If conventional drain configurations are used, then drainage function is provided, but the drainage capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The drain pipe is designed with hump-like courses that create dynamic flow obstacles, inducing vertical flow deflection and enhancing drainage capacity. The hump-like structure creates turbulence and improves water flow efficiency compared to conventional smooth pipe configurations.
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 configuration enables a low-profile, easily pre-assembled shower floor element with high drainage capacity, allowing for floor-level installation without a deeper recess and facilitating leak testing and odor trap verification.
Implementation Method 1
an odor trap is formed in cooperation with the drain pan by deflection in the drain line
Implementation Method 2
two floor flow obstacles formed by a hump-like course of the line floor in the longitudinal cross section, between which flow obstacles a line cover is pulled down in the sense of an oppositely directed ceiling hump
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The base element (52) has a drain channel (51), a drain bowl (4) provided with a bowl base and an odor trap formed by a vertical flow deflection. The odor trap is partially formed outside of the drain bowl. The vertical flow deflection guided to the odor trap is formed outside of the drain bowl. The drain channel and the drain line (5) are arranged on top of each other in a level. The base element is designed like a box and opened downwards. The drain channel is supported on a box cover. The drain channel and the drain line are arranged in a longitudinal extension. An independent claim is also included for an arrangement of a shower base element.