Sink Drain Plug With Cleaning Brush Attachment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sink drain plugs with cleaning brush attachments often have suction cup fasteners that fail and occupy sink space, requiring frequent resecuring and limiting versatility.
Innovation Solution
A sink drain plug with a removable upper connector that secures different types and sizes of cleaning brushes, allowing for easy attachment and detachment, serving as both a brush holder and a plug when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a suction cup fastener is used to secure the cleaning brush, then the brush can be attached to the sink, but the fastener occupies sink space and is prone to failure requiring frequent resecuring
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the brush holder function from the sink surface and relocates it to the drain plug. The upper connector on the drain plug serves as the attachment point, removing the need for suction cup fasteners that occupy sink basin space. This extraction resolves the contradiction by eliminating the harmful space occupation while maintaining reliable brush attachment through the drain plug's upper connector.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain plug acts as an intermediary object between the brush and the sink. Instead of directly attaching the brush to the sink surface (which requires space), the drain plug serves as a mediator that provides the attachment function. The upper connector on the drain plug interfaces with the brush handle, while the drain plug itself interfaces with the sink drain, thus mediating the attachment without occupying valuable sink basin space.
2Ease of operation
If a suction cup fastener is used to secure the cleaning brush, then the brush can be attached to the sink, but the fastener is prone to failure requiring frequent resecuring
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the attachment function from the unreliable suction cup fastener and relocates it to the drain plug's upper connector. This extraction eliminates the reliability problems associated with suction cups while maintaining ease of operation, as the upper connector provides a stable, permanent attachment point that does not require frequent resecuring.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain plug with upper connector serves itself by providing a built-in attachment mechanism. The upper connector is an integral part of the drain plug design, eliminating the need for separate fasteners that may fail. The system is self-sufficient, providing both the sealing function (drain plug) and the brush attachment function (upper connector) through a single integrated component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drain plug has a removable upper connector for cleaning brushes, then different brush types can be secured, but the connector mechanism adds complexity to the drain plug
Solution Approach 1:
The upper connector is designed as a universal attachment mechanism that can accommodate different brush types and sizes. This multi-functional design allows the same connector to interface with various brush handles, providing versatility without requiring multiple specialized attachment mechanisms. The universal design resolves the contradiction by achieving broad compatibility through a single, well-designed connector rather than through complex multiple mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain plug system is segmented into functional components: the main drain plug body and the removable upper connector. This segmentation allows the upper connector to be independently designed for brush attachment versatility while keeping the main plug body simple. The connector can be removed or replaced without affecting the drain plug's primary sealing function, thus reducing overall complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a drain plug for a sink. More specifically, the present invention provides a drain plug for a sink that includes an attached brush that may be utilized to clean dishes and other items in the sink. The device includes a drain plug configured to seal the drain of a sink. The drain plug may include apertures for straining solid materials and letting liquid flow out of the sink. The drain plug may also be a solid plug. An upper end of the drain plug includes a connector that removably secures a cleaning brush thereto. The cleaning brush has different configurations, such as handles for optional hand use. The connector of the drain plug is utilized to attach different cleaning brush types for different purposes.