Shower Pan Linear Drain with Concealed Floor Covering Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of linear drains in shower installations is limited due to consumer discomfort with standing on apertured grates, aesthetic concerns, and the difficulty in handling and maintaining bulky drain covers, which has hindered the acceptance and installation of shower trenches and trench drains, especially in center locations.
Innovation Solution
The integration of linear drains into shower pans with floor covering panels that conceal the drainage areas, allowing for various configurations and designs while minimizing the perceived size of the drain and grate, and providing lightweight, removable options that are easier to handle and maintain, thus addressing the aesthetic and practical issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If linear drains are used in shower installations, then drainage functionality is improved, but consumer acceptance deteriorates due to discomfort with standing on apertured grates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses floor covering panels that visually replicate the appearance of solid flooring materials (tile, stone, wood) to cover the drain area. These panels create a visual copy of traditional solid floors, concealing the linear drain and grate while maintaining aesthetic continuity with the surrounding floor, thereby eliminating consumer discomfort associated with visible apertured grates.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor covering panels serve as an intermediary element between the linear drain system and the consumer. They mediate the interaction by providing a solid-appearing surface that conceals the drain opening, allowing consumers to stand on the area above the drain without visual discomfort, while still permitting water drainage through the concealed grate.
2Area of stationary object
If traditional linear drain covers are used, then drainage coverage is improved, but handling and maintenance difficulty increases due to bulky and heavy construction
Solution Approach 1:
The drain cover system is segmented into multiple components: the linear drain body, the grate, and separate floor covering panels. This segmentation allows the floor covering panels to be independently installed and removed without requiring removal of the entire drain assembly, making maintenance access easier while maintaining full drain coverage area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the drain cover system by using lightweight floor covering panels with aperture areas that provide sufficient drainage coverage. These panels have reduced weight compared to traditional solid drain covers while maintaining adequate coverage area through strategic aperture placement and sizing.
3Shape
If linear drain grates are tiled over, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but weight and handling difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the aesthetic floor covering function from the drainage function. Floor covering panels (which can be tiled or other materials) are installed as removable overlays that provide aesthetic appearance when in place, but can be easily removed for maintenance without requiring removal of heavy tiled structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor covering panels are designed as lightweight, potentially replaceable components rather than permanent heavy installations. They can be easily removed and replaced if needed, serving as a temporary aesthetic solution that doesn't require the permanent commitment and weight of tiled-over grates.
4Area of stationary object
If large drain grates are used to cover linear drains, then drainage coverage is improved, but risk of damage to surrounding surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain coverage is segmented into the permanent linear drain body and removable floor covering panels. The panels can be easily removed and reinstalled without dragging or manipulating heavy large grates across the shower floor, eliminating the scraping and scratching damage that occurs with traditional large grate installation and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor covering panels act as intermediaries that protect the surrounding shower surfaces during maintenance operations. Instead of handling large heavy grates that may scrape floors and walls, the lightweight panels can be easily lifted and removed, preventing contact damage to surrounding surfaces while still providing full drainage coverage when installed.
Data Source
AI summary
A drainable floor and linear drain, the drainable floor having an integral trench associated therewith, the trench comprising sidewall and a trench floor, and one or more floor covering panels positioned in registry with the drainable floor, where the one or more floor covering panels cover a portion of the projection of the trench floor, while leaving at least one other portion of the trench floor uncovered by such one or more floor covering panels.