Toilet shell

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toilets require replacement of the entire unit to change the appearance or shape, which is inconvenient and wasteful.

Innovation Solution

A toilet shell configured to be coupled to a toilet, allowing for changes in appearance or shape without replacing the toilet. The toilet shell includes components such as a cowling, main shell, side panels, and hinge cover, which can be easily attached and detached from the toilet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the entire toilet is replaced to change appearance or shape, then the aesthetic requirements are met, but resource waste and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveappearance customizationVSAvoidresource waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The toilet is divided into two main segments: the functional toilet body (bowl, tank, plumbing) and the cosmetic shell (exterior surfaces). The shell can be detached and replaced independently, allowing appearance customization without replacing the functional components. This segmentation enables users to change the look of the toilet by swapping shells while keeping the underlying functional unit intact, thereby avoiding resource waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the entire toilet is replaced to change appearance or shape, then the aesthetic requirements are met, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveappearance customizationVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The toilet is divided into two main segments: the functional toilet body (bowl, tank, plumbing) and the cosmetic shell (exterior surfaces). The shell can be detached and replaced independently, allowing appearance customization without replacing the functional components. This segmentation enables users to change the look of the toilet by swapping shells while keeping the underlying functional unit intact, thereby avoiding resource waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If integral components are used to define exterior surfaces, then structural integrity is maintained, but flexibility in changing appearance is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidappearance flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The toilet is divided into two main segments: the functional toilet body (bowl, tank, plumbing) and the cosmetic shell (exterior surfaces). The shell can be detached and replaced independently, allowing appearance customization without replacing the functional components. This segmentation enables users to change the look of the toilet by swapping shells while keeping the underlying functional unit intact, thereby avoiding resource waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cosmetic shell is designed to fit over and enclose the functional toilet body, similar to a nested doll structure. The shell acts as an outer layer that can be removed and replaced without affecting the inner functional components. This nesting approach allows the exterior appearance to be changed independently while maintaining the structural integrity of the core toilet unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS20250129588A1Toilet shell

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 KOHLER CO(US)

AI summary

A toilet shell includes a cowling configured to be coupled to a pedestal, the cowling configured to cover a rim of a bowl included in the pedestal, a main housing configured to be coupled to the pedestal below the cowling, a first side shell configured to be coupled to the pedestal, a second side shell configured to be coupled to the pedestal, and a hinge cover configured to be couple to the pedestal.