Shower Drain Without Grating for Seamless Tiled Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shower drains often have issues with fitting due to mismatched lengths, abrupt transitions causing discomfort, difficult cleaning, and high manufacturing costs due to the need for gratings and varied grating sizes.

Innovation Solution

A shower drain design with a sloping bottom that provides a gradual transition from the tiled floor, optional omission of gratings for easier cleaning and reduced costs, and manufacturing flexibility through extruded profiles or bent metal sheets, allowing for customizable lengths and seamless joints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a grating is used in the shower drain, then the drain can be manufactured with a simple receptacle structure, but the cleaning becomes difficult and hygiene deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidease of cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the grating component from the shower drain system. By eliminating the grating entirely, the patent simplifies the cleaning process to a single continuous surface while maintaining the receptacle structure for water collection and drainage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If vertical side walls are used in the receptacle, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the transition to the tiled floor becomes abrupt causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiduser comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies curvature to the side walls of the receptacle, transitioning from vertical straight walls to curved or sloping walls that gradually rise toward the tiled floor level. This curved geometry creates a smooth, gradual transition surface that eliminates abrupt edges and improves user comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the receptacle is sawn to size during fitting, then the drain can be made to match the available space, but at least one side wall is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to spaceVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the receptacle into modular sections that can be joined together. This allows the drain to be adapted to different lengths and configurations by assembling multiple segments, eliminating the need to saw through and weaken the structure during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If a grating is installed in the shower drain, then the drain structure is complete, but manufacturing costs increase due to the need for various grating sizes and types

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveversatilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the grating component from the shower drain system. By eliminating the grating entirely, the patent simplifies the cleaning process to a single continuous surface while maintaining the receptacle structure for water collection and drainage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The receptacle structure is designed to serve multiple functions: water collection, gradual transition surface for comfort, and integrated drainage. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate grating components, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2319997B1Drain without grating
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 EASY SANITAIRY SOLUTIONS BV
  • EP2319997B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2319997B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2319997B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4E

AI summary

The invention relates to a drain, such as a shower drain, which drain comprises: - two parallel longitudinal edges which bound an inflow opening; - a side wall depending from a first longitudinal edge; and - a bottom, which bottom rises from the underside of the side wall to the second longitudinal edge. The invention further comprises a combination of two drains.