Segmented Construction Protection Element for Sanitary Mounting Frames

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building protection elements for sanitary systems do not adequately cover vulnerable areas on mounting frames, leading to contamination risks during tile installation, and lack flexibility in adaptation to installation situations.

Innovation Solution

A sanitary system design featuring a mounting frame with vertical supports, traverses, and a temporarily arranged building protection element that covers sensitive areas like flushing pipe outlets and fastening element receptacles, with a multi-part building protection element that can be adapted to protect larger areas by connecting separate parts via contact surfaces and mechanical locking elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a conventional building protection element is used, then the pre-wall area is protected, but the vulnerable areas on the mounting frame (flush pipe outlet, fastening element receptacles) remain exposed to contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination of mounting frame componentsVSAvoidprotected area
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The building protection element is divided into multiple segments: a main body portion covering the pre-wall area and extended portions (flaps) that specifically cover the flush pipe outlet and fastening element receptacles. This segmentation allows each part to protect specific vulnerable areas independently, ensuring complete coverage of all mounting frame components while maintaining the overall protective function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed building protection element is used, then installation is simple, but it cannot be flexibly adapted to different installation situations and sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to installation situationsVSAvoidprotection element structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The building protection element incorporates movable flaps that can be positioned and fixed in different configurations. These flaps are designed to extend and cover various mounting frame components, allowing the protection element to adapt to different installation situations and sizes. The dynamic positioning capability enables the same protection element to serve multiple installation scenarios without requiring complete redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the building protection element covers all mounting frame areas, then complete protection is achieved, but the access opening for the plumbing system becomes restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination protectionVSAvoidaccess to plumbing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protection element is segmented such that the main body covers the pre-wall area while separate extendable flaps cover the mounting frame components. This segmentation allows the flaps to be positioned to protect vulnerable areas while leaving the drain pipe inlet and other access points remain accessible, thus maintaining both protection and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flaps act as intermediary elements between the main protection body and the mounting frame components. They can be extended to cover specific areas like the flush pipe outlet and fastening element receptacles, providing targeted protection while allowing the main access opening to remain open for plumbing system access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4411082A1Sanitary system / construction protection element
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP4411082A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4411082A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4411082A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sanitary system (1) comprises a mounting frame (2) with two vertical supports (3) spaced apart from each other, an upper crossbar (4) and a lower crossbar (5), wherein the two crossbars (4, 5) are each rigidly connected at their ends to the vertical supports (3);and a temporary construction protection element (6) arranged in front of the mounting frame (2), wherein the upper cross member (4) has a flushing pipe receptacle (7) with a flushing pipe (8) stored therein with a flushing pipe outlet (9) and two spaced-apart mounting element receptacles (10) for receiving mounting elements (11), wherein the lower cross member (4) has a drain pipe receptacle (12) with a drain pipe (13) stored therein with a drain pipe inlet (14), wherein the construction protection element (6) has a shape designed such that, when the construction protection element (6) is temporarily arranged in front of the mounting frame (2), the construction protection element (6) extends in such a way that at least the mounting element receptacles (10) and the flushing pipe outlet (9) are covered by the construction protection.