Lavatory Basin With Hidden Drain Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional lavatories with visible primary and secondary drain openings suffer from aesthetic issues, increased maintenance due to difficult-to-clean areas, and reduced storage space beneath the lavatory.
Innovation Solution
A lavatory design featuring a basin with a hidden drain opening obscured by a horizontally extending projection, coupled with a hidden chamber beneath the basin for fluid communication and storage, minimizing visible drainage components and maintaining cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a primary drain opening is provided in the basin to drain water, then water drainage function is achieved, but the drain opening is visible and foreign matter collects at or around it, decreasing aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The drain opening is extracted from the visible basin surface and relocated to the bottom surface of the basin. The projection structure further conceals the drain opening by extending over it, effectively removing the visual defect from the user's perspective while maintaining the drainage function.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain opening is moved from the top surface (2D plane) of the basin to the bottom surface (another 2D plane), and further concealed by the projection extending in a third dimension. This dimensional transition hides the drain opening from view while preserving its drainage capability.
2Reliability
If a secondary drain opening is located on a side of the basin to maintain water level when primary drain is blocked, then overflow protection is achieved, but difficult-to-clean areas are created on the side of the basin, decreasing aesthetic appearance and cleanliness
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary drain opening is extracted from the side surface of the basin and relocated to the bottom surface. The projection structure conceals this opening, eliminating the difficult-to-access side area and preventing foreign matter accumulation while maintaining overflow protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Both the primary and secondary drain openings are merged into the bottom surface of the basin and concealed by the projection. This consolidation eliminates separate side openings and creates a unified, easy-to-clean surface while maintaining both drainage and overflow protection functions.
3Reliability
If additional piping is required to connect the secondary drain opening to plumbing system, then overflow drainage is achieved, but the amount of potential storage space beneath the lavatory is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The primary and secondary drain openings are merged into a single drain assembly located in the bottom surface of the basin. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate piping systems, reducing plumbing complexity and maximizing storage space beneath the lavatory while maintaining both drainage functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A lavatory includes a basin including a bottom surface, the basin configured to hold a volume of water; and a drain opening disposed in the bottom surface of the basin. The bottom surface of the basin includes a substantially horizontally extending projection formed integrally with the bottom surface of the basin. The horizontally extending projection is disposed over the drain opening such that the drain opening is at least partially obscured from a view of a user.