Mock Shower Drain for Bonded Membrane Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The discontinuity in time between plumber and tile setter installations in bonded waterproof membrane shower systems leads to challenges in ensuring accurate placement and protection of integrated bonding flange drains, which can result in damage and installation delays.
Innovation Solution
A mock shower drain is introduced for temporary installation, allowing plumbers to accurately position integrated bonding flange drains and prevent damage by matching the height of the mock drain with the subfloor, ensuring proper plumbing alignment and facilitating easy removal by tile setters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If an integrated bonding flange drain is installed by a plumber in advance, then the plumbing alignment can be established early, but the drain is vulnerable to damage during the extended period before tile installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a mock drain that replicates the essential features and dimensions of the actual integrated bonding flange drain. This copy allows the plumber to perform installation preparations and establish plumbing alignment without installing the vulnerable real drain, thereby eliminating the time delay while protecting against damage risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The mock drain enables preliminary installation actions to be taken by the plumber before the tile setter arrives. The plumbing alignment, positioning, and supporting structures can be established in advance using the mock drain, so that when the actual drain is installed later, everything is already in place for immediate completion.
2Productivity
If the plumber installs the drain components early, then plumbing work can be completed ahead of schedule, but it becomes difficult to ascertain the correct installation height for proper tile installation
Solution Approach 1:
The mock drain is designed with identical dimensions, shape, and positioning requirements as the actual integrated bonding flange drain. This allows the plumber to learn and establish the correct installation height and alignment during mock drain installation, ensuring precision is achieved before the actual drain is installed by the tile setter.
Solution Approach 2:
The mock drain serves as an intermediary object that mediates between the plumber's early installation work and the tile setter's finishing work. It transfers the positioning information and alignment requirements from the final installation requirements back to the preliminary plumbing work, ensuring height accuracy is maintained.
3Ease of operation
If the integrated bonding flange drain protrudes above the subfloor for proper installation, then it can be properly positioned for tile setting, but it becomes more exposed and susceptible to damage during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The mock drain replicates the protruding configuration of the actual drain above the subfloor, allowing the plumber to properly position and test the installation geometry without exposing the valuable actual drain to damage risks during the extended storage period before tile installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A mock shower drain for temporary, in-situ installation within a shower area that is configured to utilize an integrated bonding flange drain, the mock shower drain includes a lower section operable to mate with a drain fitting installed in the shower area, the drain fitting operable to mate with a corresponding lower section of an integrated bonding flange drain. An upper section is sized to fit within a cavity formed in a subfloor of the shower area sized to receive a corresponding section of the integrated bonding flange drain. A cap section is coupled to the upper section, the cap section forming a barrier to resist passage of debris to the drain fitting. An intermediate section intercouples the upper section and the cap section. The mock drain is dimensioned such that an uppermost portion of the mock drain is elevated at least as high as to be substantially flush with the subfloor of the shower area when the lower section of the mock drain is mated with the drain fitting.