Sanitary Unit Slot for Coin-Driven Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanitary functional units for water outlets often require specialized tools for installation and maintenance, which may not be readily available, leading to aesthetic issues and inconsistent water jet quality due to the need for screwing and unscrewing mechanisms that can disrupt flow conditions.

Innovation Solution

A sanitary functional unit with an outflow-side housing frontal surface featuring a slot with thicker longitudinal sides acting as rotary or tool attack surfaces, allowing for easy attachment and detachment using common tools like a coin or screwdriver, and incorporating a bayonet connection for simplified handling and alignment of the water jet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a screw connection is used to attach the functional unit to the water outlet, then the attachment is secure and reliable, but specialized tools are required for installation and maintenance which may not be readily available

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidease of installation and maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection mechanism is divided into two parts: a bayonet connection for secure attachment and a slot for tool engagement. The slot is integrated into the outflow-side housing frontal surface, allowing tool access without compromising the aesthetic appearance or requiring additional external components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The slot in the housing frontal surface serves multiple functions: it acts as a tool attack surface for rotational force application, enables alignment of the water jet, and facilitates attachment and detachment of the functional unit. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized tools while maintaining secure connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Shape

If the housing is screwed deep into the water outlet to improve aesthetic appearance, then the aesthetic impression is enhanced, but the outflow side of the housing front does not protrude over the water outlet making tool access difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidtool access for installation
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tool access slot is positioned on the outflow-side housing frontal surface, which is the visible aesthetic face of the unit. This allows the housing to be mounted flush or recessed while maintaining tool accessibility through the slot, resolving the conflict between aesthetic appearance and installation ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If a slot is provided on the outflow-side housing frontal surface for tool access, then ease of installation and alignment is improved, but the structural integrity of the housing front may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installation and alignmentVSAvoidhousing front structural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The slot is positioned and dimensioned to provide sufficient structural strength while allowing tool access. The opposite slot longitudinal sides are designed as rotary or tool attack surfaces, concentrating the mechanical stress at specific locations rather than compromising the entire housing front structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of operation

If the slot longitudinal sides are designed as rotary or tool attack surfaces, then common tools like coin or screwdriver can be used for attachment, but the manufacturing precision required for these surfaces increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with common toolsVSAvoidprecision of slot surfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The slot surfaces are designed to work with common, inexpensive tools like coins or screwdrivers that are readily available in households. The design prioritizes ease of use with simple tools over high-precision manufacturing, making the functional unit accessible to end users without requiring specialized installation equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP2930277B1Sanitary function unit
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 NEOPERL GMBH
  • EP2930277B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2930277B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2930277B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a sanitary functional unit (2) comprising a housing (6) which can be detachably attached to the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, wherein the housing (6) has a downstream end face (9) with outlet openings (10). A characteristic feature of the functional unit according to the invention is that the downstream end face (9) has at least one slot (19), the opposite longitudinal sides (20) of which are designed as rotary or tool engagement surfaces for a rotary tool, preferably designed as a coin (21), which can be detachably inserted into the at least one slot (19), and that the housing (6) of the functional unit (2) is rotatably held on the water outlet of the outlet fitting and/or the housing end face is rotatably mounted thereon relative to the housing.With the aid of the slot (19) provided on the housing end face (9) and the associated rotary tool, for example, a housing end face (9) pivotably mounted in the housing can be easily aligned and/or the torque required for the assembly and disassembly of a screw connection provided between the outer circumference of the housing and the inner circumference of the fitting can be conveniently transferred to the housing (6) without the need for special rotary tools (see Fig. 5).