System comprising a connecting device and a sanitary appliance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connection devices for sanitary articles, such as toilet bowls, do not allow for easy height adjustment after the pre-wall mounting, making it difficult to account for varying floor thicknesses or user preferences.

Innovation Solution

A connecting device with a displaceable bearing element that can be adjusted along a guide relative to the sanitary article, allowing for independent height adjustment without affecting the connection to a fixed on-site line, and featuring a compensation section for maintaining a watertight connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pre-wall is mounted with fixed connection structures, then the connection structure is stable and secure, but the height adjustment of the sanitary article becomes difficult or impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidheight adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection device is divided into separate components: a bearing element with pipeline sections that can be independently positioned, and a sanitary article that can be adjusted relative to it. This segmentation allows the connection structure to remain fixed and stable while the sanitary article height can be independently adjusted by moving the bearing element along the guide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing element is designed to be displaceable along a guide relative to the sanitary article, introducing dynamic adjustability to an otherwise static connection system. This allows height adjustment after installation while maintaining a secure connection when positioned.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the bearing element is made displaceable for height adjustment, then the height adjustment becomes easy and independent, but the connection stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustmentVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide acts as an intermediary mechanism between the bearing element and the sanitary article, providing a controlled path for displacement. This ensures that the bearing element can be adjusted easily along the guide while maintaining proper alignment and connection stability during and after adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic adjustable connection through the displaceable bearing element guided by a guide structure, allowing easy height adjustment while maintaining connection integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If mounting elements are placed behind the pre-wall for adjustment, then the connection structure can be adjusted, but the adjustment elements become inaccessible after installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidaccessibility of adjustment elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing adjustment elements behind the wall where they are hidden, the bearing element with adjustment capability is positioned in front of the pre-wall on the sanitary article side. This inversion makes the adjustment elements accessible from the bathroom side while still providing the needed adaptability for height adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3746607B1System comprising a connecting device and a sanitary appliance
Publication Date: 2022.11.09 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP3746607B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3746607B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3746607B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a connection system (1) for connecting a sanitary article (2) to a connection structure (3), which is provided on-site in a fixed manner, to at least one line (4), which is arranged on-site in a fixed manner, comprising a bearing element (5) with at least one bearing-side pipeline section (6), which is arranged on the bearing element (5) and is designed to be connected to the on-site line (4) arranged in a stationary manner so as to conduct water and to a sanitary article-side connection point (7) so as to conduct water, wherein the bearing element (5) can be arranged on the sanitary article (2) in a movable manner relative to the sanitary article (2) in order to adjust the position, in particular the height position, of the sanitary article (2) relative to the connection structure (3), which is provided on-site in a fixed manner, along an adjustment movement (E).