Illuminated Drain Stopper Light Pipe for Sink Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional night lights in bathrooms are limited by their placement near outlets, fail to adequately illuminate specific areas like sinks, and occupy outlets, making it difficult to use fixtures in dim conditions without disturbing others or using excessive overhead lighting.
Innovation Solution
An illuminated drain stopper with a light pipe that transfers light from a source within the body to its outer periphery, providing localized illumination to the sink area without occupying outlets, and can be installed in various fixtures like sinks, showers, or tubs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional night lights are plugged into outlets in the bathroom, then they provide visibility to the bathroom space, but they reduce the number of available outlets and are restricted in their location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the night light function with the drain stopper, merging two separate objects into one. The illuminated drain stopper integrates a light source within the stopper body, allowing it to provide bathroom visibility while being installed in the drain fixture rather than requiring an electrical outlet. This resolves the contradiction by making the lighting device adaptable to non-outlet locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain stopper is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a drainage control device and a lighting device. The multi-functionality allows the same object to provide both water flow control and illumination, thereby eliminating the need for separate outlet-based night lights and freeing up electrical outlets for other uses.
2Illumination intensity
If conventional night lights are plugged into outlets, then they provide some visibility, but they may not illuminate a desired area such as within a sink
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminated drain stopper provides localized illumination specifically at the sink area where the drain stopper is installed. The light source is positioned within the stopper body, and the light pipe directs light to the outer periphery, creating targeted illumination exactly where needed (within the sink) rather than general bathroom lighting. This local quality approach allows precise control over where the light is delivered.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a light pipe as an intermediary component to transfer light from the light source within the stopper body to the outer periphery. This light pipe enables the light to be delivered to the desired location (sink area) efficiently, acting as a mediator between the light source and the target illumination area, thereby achieving precise light placement flexibility.
3Illumination intensity
If overhead light is turned on to use the bathroom at night, then visibility is improved, but it disturbs others sleeping and creates discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminated drain stopper provides localized illumination specifically at the sink area rather than illuminating the entire bathroom. This localized lighting approach improves visibility for bathroom tasks while minimizing light spill into areas where others may be sleeping, thereby reducing disturbance while maintaining necessary visibility.
4Illumination intensity
If conventional night lights illuminate a larger area, then visibility is improved, but they do not assist in finding or using a specific fixture like a sink
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminated drain stopper provides focused illumination at the sink fixture location where it is installed. By placing the light source at the specific fixture (drain stopper in the sink), it highlights the exact location and area of the sink, making it easy to find and use. This localized lighting provides both visibility and spatial information about the fixture location simultaneously.
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
Enables users to navigate and use bathroom fixtures in dim conditions without overhead lighting, freeing up outlets and minimizing disturbance, while providing targeted and controlled illumination.
Implementation Method 1
a light pipe disposed at the upper end of the body. The light pipe is configured to transfer light from a light source within the body to an outer periphery of the light pipe
Implementation Method 2
The light pipe is configured to reflect light laterally outward toward the sink basin
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminated drain stopper includes a body having an upper end and a lower end, and a light pipe disposed at the upper end of the body. The light pipe is configured to transfer light from a light source within the body to an outer periphery of the light pipe.