Profiled Element for Terraces with Segmented Drip Lip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional profiled elements for terraces and balconies often fail to ensure effective vertical water drainage, as the drip edge projection is insufficient, leading to water veering towards the wall, and the sealant obstructs drainage slots, while also making it difficult to affix connector elements.
Innovation Solution
A profiled element with a contoured drip lip featuring dual protrusions and a spacer to direct water vertically, combined with dovetail incisions for adhesive and connector anchoring, and a snap-action connector system to facilitate installation and prevent water stagnation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drip edge projection is used to redirect water outward, then water drainage is improved, but for abundant water quantities the projection is insufficient and water veers toward the wall
Solution Approach 1:
The drip lip is segmented into multiple protrusions (first protrusion, second protrusion, third protrusion) at different heights and positions. This segmentation allows water to be redirected through multiple stages, with each protrusion handling different flow conditions, ensuring effective drainage even for abundant water quantities without water veering toward the wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds vertical dimensionality to the drip lip structure by creating protrusions at different heights (first, second, and third protrusions). This multi-level arrangement in the vertical dimension enables more effective water redirection compared to a single-level projection, allowing water to be channeled outward more reliably under various flow conditions.
2Strength
If sealant is inserted between the front portion and outer edge of tiles, then adhesion is improved, but the sealant obstructs drainage slots
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage slots are extracted as separate, distinct features from the front portion, positioned such that they remain accessible and unobstructed by the sealant applied at the junction between the front portion and tile edge. This separation ensures that the sealant's adhesion function does not interfere with the drainage function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealant is applied locally at the junction between the front portion and tile edge, while the drainage slots are positioned in a different local area that remains accessible. This localized application strategy allows the sealant to provide adhesion where needed without obstructing the drainage pathways.
3Adaptability or versatility
If connector elements are affixed after laying profiled elements, then installation flexibility is improved, but the affixing operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The profiled elements are designed with pre-integrated features (such as recesses, grooves, or alignment markers) that facilitate connector affixing. This preliminary preparation of the profiled element structure makes the subsequent connector installation easier and more straightforward, even when performed after the profiled elements are laid.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector affixing process is merged with the overall installation process through design features that allow connectors to be attached in conjunction with tile laying or in a simplified manner afterward. The profiled elements and connectors are designed to work together as an integrated system, reducing the complexity of the affixing operation.
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A profiled element (10) for terraces and balconies, which comprises a substantially flat wing (11) for anchoring the profiled element to the floor, a front portion (12) for protecting an outer edge (13) of a floor paving and protruding outward with respect thereto, a drip lip (14) which is constituted by a contoured element that extends downward from the wing (11), in a region to be arranged at an edge of a terrace (21); the drip lip (14) comprises, at a lower end, at least one first protrusion (18) and at least one second protrusion (19), lower than the first protrusion, both protruding outward with respect to the front portion (12).