Recessed Point Drain Assembly for Flush Tile Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamping drain assemblies protrude above the subfloor, requiring additional installation time and skill, and disrupt the visual flow of tile flooring, making them aesthetically unpleasing.
Innovation Solution
A recessed point drain assembly that sits below the subfloor level, comprising a base plate, drain body, clamping collar, and optional strainer base, with a gasket for a watertight seal, allowing for flush installation and alignment without visible obstructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional clamping drain assembly is used, then the drain assembly is functional and economical, but the drain cover protrudes above the subfloor surface requiring additional installation time and skill
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the drain assembly protrude above the subfloor surface, the invention inverts the design so that the drain body is recessed below the subfloor level. The base plate extends above the subfloor to receive the drain cover, while the drain body itself sits below the surface, eliminating the need for installers to conform tile around a protruding drain cover.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions the drain assembly from a surface-level or protruding configuration to a recessed configuration by utilizing the vertical dimension. The drain body is positioned below the subfloor plane, creating a flush or recessed installation that eliminates the protrusion problem while maintaining functionality.
2Reliability
If a conventional clamping drain assembly is used, then the drain assembly is functional, but the drain cover breaks up the visual flow of tile along the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional drain assembly configuration by recessing the drain body below the subfloor level rather than having it protrude. This allows the tile flooring to extend continuously over the drain assembly, creating a seamless visual flow while the drain cover remains hidden below the tile surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the drain body from the visible surface plane and places it below the subfloor level. This separates the functional drainage component from the aesthetic flooring surface, allowing the tile to maintain its continuous visual flow while the drain assembly remains functional but invisible from above.
3Productivity
If a recessed point drain assembly is used, then the installation is easier and faster, but the drain assembly must be positioned below the subfloor level requiring precise installation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the vertical position parameter of the drain assembly from above or at the subfloor level to below the subfloor level. This parameter change enables flush installation that simplifies tile work while the base plate's flange provides a reference plane that facilitates precise positioning during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate serves as an intermediary component between the subfloor and the drain body. Its flange extends above the subfloor to provide a stable mounting surface and alignment reference, while the drain body is positioned below the subfloor level, mediating between the structural subfloor and the functional drain components.
Data Source
AI summary
A recessed point drain assembly is described. Embodiments of the recessed point drain assembly can include, but are not limited to, a base plate having a recess, a drain body adapted to be coupled to the base plate by a first plurality of fasteners, and a clamping collar adapted to be coupled to the drain by a second plurality of fasteners. A gasket can be sandwiched between the drain body and the clamping collar. Typically, a top of the recessed point drain assembly can be configured to be substantially flush with a top of a subfloor.