Flush-Mount Shower Drain Channel With Sliding Frame Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shower channel installations face challenges such as difficulty in horizontal alignment, potential leaks, and noise transmission due to improper installation, leading to non-compliance with binding standards.

Innovation Solution

A recessed drainage channel with a sliding frame and flexible sealing strip that can be easily installed without fastening brackets, ensuring a watertight and soundproof transition between the channel and the wall, using a flexible sealing strip and edge insulation to prevent water ingress and noise bridges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a shower channel is installed parallel to the wall and horizontally, then water drainage is achieved, but installation difficulty increases and alignment precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainage functionVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is made displaceable relative to the drainage channel, allowing it to be positioned at different locations along the longitudinal side. This dynamic positioning capability enables installers to adjust the frame's position to achieve proper alignment with the wall and floor, significantly easing the installation process while maintaining horizontal alignment and water drainage function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The displaceable frame acts as an intermediary element between the drainage channel and the wall/floor structure. It provides a flexible connection point that can be adjusted to accommodate variations in installation conditions, making the overall installation process simpler while ensuring proper positioning for water drainage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the shower channel is installed before the inclined sub-floor is created, then installation sequence is simplified, but horizontal alignment precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation efficiencyVSAvoidhorizontal alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The displaceable frame allows for post-installation adjustment of the drainage channel's position. Installers can first place the channel roughly in position, then displace the frame to achieve precise horizontal alignment after the sub-floor is created, combining installation efficiency with alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The frame is pre-attached to the drainage channel, allowing the channel to be installed quickly in its rough position before the sub-floor is finalized. The frame's displaceability then enables fine-tuning of the horizontal alignment as a preliminary adjustment step, maintaining both installation speed and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If rigid connection is used between drainage channel and wall, then structural stability is improved, but noise transmission increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidnoise transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible sealing strip serves as a flexible connection element between the frame and the wall/floor structure. It maintains structural stability by sealing the connection while its flexibility breaks sound bridges, preventing noise transmission from footfall or water flow to the wall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing strip is made of flexible material that combines sealing functionality with acoustic isolation properties. This composite approach provides both the structural stability needed for a secure connection and the noise isolation required to prevent sound transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If proper sealing is implemented to prevent leaks, then water tightness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater tightnessVSAvoidsealing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible sealing strip provides effective water sealing through its material properties and geometric design. The strip's flexibility allows it to conform to the connection interface, creating a watertight seal without requiring complex multi-component sealing systems, thus maintaining simplicity while ensuring water tightness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates quick and easy installation, prevents water leaks and noise transmission, and ensures compliance with binding standards by providing a stable and watertight seal between the drainage channel and the wall.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible sealing strip with a strip length which corresponds approximately to the total length of the drainage channel, with part of the flexible sealing strip being arranged between the first longitudinal collar and the frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

edge insulation to prevent water ingress and noise bridges

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound insulation: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentEP2184415B1Flushmountable floor drain for shower room
Publication Date: 2016.01.27 RIVAPLAN AG
  • EP2184415B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2184415B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2184415B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~3

AI summary

The unit (30) has two adjustable fastening brackets, where each bracket has a bracket element, which intervenes from the top in a drain channel (17) and is fastened with a fastening unit (33). The channel exhibits an oblong slot in an upper area to supply liquid from the top to the channel and to drain the liquid. Each of the brackets has another bracket element fastened to a vertical wall (20). The elements are adjustably fastened to each other by a fastening unit (35) so as to temporarily fasten a draw-off tap to the wall and to align the draw-off tap.