Jet Aerator Handle Pivoting for Tool-Free Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing jet regulators for sanitary outlet fittings require additional tools for assembly and disassembly, which are often misplaced or lost, and their design can compromise aesthetics or require storage of tools that are rarely needed.

Innovation Solution

A jet regulator with a handle designed as a holding bracket that can pivot between a use position protruding beyond the outlet end face and a ready position adjacent to the inner circumference, allowing for tool-free assembly and disassembly, with the handle integrated into the regulator or intermediate holder to prevent loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separate assembly and disassembly tool is used, then the jet regulator can be installed and removed, but the tool is often misplaced or lost and is not available when needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly and disassembly capabilityVSAvoidavailability of tool
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the assembly and disassembly function directly into the jet regulator housing by providing a crown-shaped front edge with alternating projections and indentations. This eliminates the need for a separate tool, combining the regulator and tool functions into one component, thereby ensuring the tool is always available and cannot be lost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The jet regulator housing is designed to serve itself for assembly and disassembly operations. The crown-shaped front edge with projections and indentations allows the regulator to function as its own tool, enabling users to perform installation and removal without requiring external tools that could be misplaced or lost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the jet regulator housing protrudes sufficiently beyond the outlet end to allow manual grasping, then assembly and disassembly can be performed manually, but this impairs the aesthetics of the outlet fitting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual grasping capabilityVSAvoidaesthetics of outlet fitting
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing the crown-shaped front edge with projections and indentations only at the specific location where tool engagement is needed (the front edge of the housing), while the rest of the housing maintains a smooth, aesthetically pleasing appearance that does not protrude excessively beyond the outlet end.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If the entire length of the aerator housing is inserted into the outlet end, then a compact design is achieved, but a sleeve-shaped turning tool is required which must be stored and is rarely needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompactness of installationVSAvoidrequirement for separate tool
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the tool function into the aerator housing itself by designing the crown-shaped front edge with projections and indentations that serve as the tool working surface. This eliminates the need for a separate sleeve-shaped turning tool, reducing device complexity while maintaining the compact installation design where the entire housing is inserted into the outlet end.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2166160B1Jet aerator
Publication Date: 2013.03.13 NEOPERL GMBH
  • EP2166160B1 patent drawingFigure 1~10
  • EP2166160B1 patent drawingFigure 11
  • EP2166160B1 patent drawingFigure 12~13

AI summary

The aerator (1) has a housing insertable into an outlet end (9) of a sanitary outlet fitting (10) directly or with an intermediate holder (12). An external thread, a bayonet extension and a plug-in/rotary connection part are respectively connected with an internal thread, a bayonet cavity and a complementary plug-in/rotary counterpart at the outlet end of the outlet fitting. A C-shaped handle (15) i.e. retaining clip, is provided at a front region of the outlet end for manual gripping of the aerator and/or at the intermediate holder for screwing and unscrewing from the outlet fitting.