Modular Control Housing for Customizable Plumbing Fixture Features

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional plumbing fixtures, such as toilets and bidets, often come with preselected standard control features, limiting consumer customization options and increasing inventory costs for manufacturers, as no single model may offer the exact combination of features desired by consumers.

Innovation Solution

A modular housing system that allows for customizable electronic features, including light, bidet wand, and deodorizer controls, which can be selected and assembled 'a la carte' behind the frontal basin, enabling users to choose desired features without replacing the entire fixture, and allowing for future upgrades or aesthetic changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a manufacturer produces hundreds of stock keeping units for different control feature combinations, then consumer customization options are improved, but inventory costs and device complexity increase greatly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol feature customizationVSAvoidinventory management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control housing is divided into a standard housing portion and a removable control panel portion. The control panel can be detached and replaced independently, allowing consumers to customize control features without changing the entire fixture. This segmentation enables manufacturers to produce a single standard housing model while offering multiple interchangeable control panels, thereby reducing inventory complexity while maintaining customization options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a manufacturer produces hundreds of stock keeping units for different control feature combinations, then consumer customization options are improved, but manufacturing costs and production complexity increase greatly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol feature customizationVSAvoidproduction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The control housing is divided into a standard housing portion and a removable control panel portion. The control panel can be detached and replaced independently, allowing consumers to customize control features without changing the entire fixture. This segmentation enables manufacturers to produce a single standard housing model while offering multiple interchangeable control panels, thereby reducing inventory complexity while maintaining customization options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If a purchaser selects a differently shaped fixture to obtain different control features, then control feature customization is improved, but the fixture shape and size are constrained by available models

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol feature selectionVSAvoidfixture geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The control housing is divided into a standard housing portion and a removable control panel portion. The control panel can be detached and replaced independently, allowing consumers to customize control features without changing the entire fixture. This segmentation enables manufacturers to produce a single standard housing model while offering multiple interchangeable control panels, thereby reducing inventory complexity while maintaining customization options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If control features are integrated into a fixed housing, then structural simplicity is improved, but future upgrades and aesthetic changes become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing structureVSAvoidupgrade capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control panel is designed to be removable and replaceable, transforming the static housing structure into a dynamic system that can be modified. The control panel can be detached from the standard housing and replaced with different panels for upgrades or aesthetic changes, maintaining structural simplicity while enabling future adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 consumers to customize plumbing fixtures with desired electronic features, reducing inventory costs for manufacturers and allowing for easy upgrades or aesthetic changes, while maintaining the fixture's appearance and functionality.

Implementation Method 1

A translucent wall forms a part of the modular housing. At least one light source is positioned in the modular housing and can be selectively illuminated to transmit light through the translucent wall.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS9689156B2Plumbing fixture having modular control housing

Publication Date: 2017.06.27 KOHLER CO(US)

AI summary

Disclosed is a plumbing fixture (e.g. a bidet or toilet) of the type having a frontal basin and means for directing a supply of water to the basin for cleaning the basin. The plumbing fixture includes a modular housing mountable behind the basin and at least one control positioned in the modular housing to control operation of the plumbing fixture. The control may be selected from the group Consisting of light controls, bidet wand position controls, bidet wand heated air supply controls, bidet wand water supply controls, lid position movement controls, seat position movement controls, deodorizer controls, audio device controls and ultra violet sanitizer controls.